Effect of aluminum and chromium on the growth and germination of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora swartz.) DC.

Abstract

Prosopis seeds were grown under controlled environment in solution of aluminum and chromium at different concentration alone as well as combined together. The effect of these metals was studied on seed germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length and dry biomass. Aluminum and chromium alone, and combined together showed no effects on germination and dry biomass. Chromium alone was found toxic to root, shoot and seedling length. However, application of different concentrations of aluminum increased the root, shoot and seedling growth. It may be concluded that aluminum is not as toxic as chromium, and their combined treatment showed the intermediate effect by ameliorating the impact of one another.

Effect of industrial effluents on seed germination and seedling growth of rice

“…In the present study, germination and growth were reduced significantly by pharmaceutical and tannery effluents in Boro season but in T. Aman season although germination and growth of seedlings were affected but not completely suppressed. Similar observations have been reported for seed germination in corn, (13)(14)(15)(16)(17) , wheat, Vigna spp. and P. juliflora (18) .…”

Cr-resistant rhizo- and endophytic bacteria associated with Prosopis juliflora and their potential as phytoremediation enhancing agents in metal-degraded soils

“…Although plants need some heavy metals as essential micronutrients, their excess in soil inhibits plant growth. The heavy metal tolerating capacity of plants mainly depends on plant species or genotype and the concentration of specific heavy metals in the environment (Pulford and Watson, 2003 ; Jamal, 2006 ; Leitenmaier and Küpper, 2013 ). There are no standards of heavy metals concentration in soil set by Pakistan.…”

“…It is a deep rooted bush or tree and widely propagated in Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan (Deans et al, 2003 ; Benata et al, 2008 ; Qureshi et al, 2014 ). Furthermore, it remediates soil contaminated with heavy metals and helps in site reclamation (Jamal, 2006 ; Usha et al, 2009 ; Varun et al, 2011 ). During an initial survey of the tannery effluent contaminated area of Kasur (Punjab, Pakistan), which is one of the most polluted areas by heavy metals in the world, only P. juliflora has been found to grow on the contaminated area with heavy metal high concentrations (Cd, 26 mg kg −1 ; Co 22 mg kg −1 ; Cr, 2243 mg kg −1 ; Fe, 137 mg kg −1 ; Mn 9.4 mg kg −1 ; Ni, 34 mg kg −1 ; Pb, 18 mg kg −1 ; Zn, 14 mg kg −1 ) (Afzal et al, 2014a ).…”

Effects of diverse doses of Lead (Pb) on different growth attributes of <i>Zea-Mays</i> L.

“…The decrease in seed germination is attributed by the heavy metal treatment [16,17]. Reduced seed germination is observed in corn treated with 20, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml lead acetate [18].…”