Effect of Chromium ions on the biochemical parameters of cotton plant, Gossypium hirsutum (L.)

Abstract

The Cotton plant, Gossypium hirsutum (L.) treated different concentrations of chromium [Cr] ions (10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 250 mgkg-1) through soil for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, the biochemical parameters of the control and treated Cotton plant G. hirsutum (L.) such as chlorophyll a & b, total chlorophyll, total sugars, starch, aminoacids, protein and proline were analyzed by standard procedures. Results were statistically analysed and the mean values between the groups were evaluated by Duncan post hoc with homogenous subset. In all the treated groups, the biochemical parameters were significantly reduced than control except 10mgKg-1 which is representing the below critical concentration of the micronutrients, i.e., heavy metals. Our study evidenced that Cr levels in soil less than 10 mg Kg-1 showed no impact on the chlorophyll, total sugars and amino acids in the cotton plants Gossypium hirsutum (L.) whereas higher concentrations of the Cr levels showed severe impact on the photosynthetic pigments (chief and total pigments) which resulted in the reduced food production (total sugars and starch) and sugar interconversion, finally the growth and metabolism of the cotton plant were severely altered.