Studying the Impact of Chromium Contamination on Seed Germination, Phytotoxicity and Growth Dynamics in Vigna Radiata Seeds

Soils contaminated with heavy metals pose a substantial threat to sustainable agriculture. Among these toxic elements released in the environment, chromium (Cr) is particularly hazardous, severely inhibiting plant growth. The current investigation examines the impact of varying chromium concentrations on the germination of seeds and the growth performance of seedlings in Vigna radiata. Exposure to higher chromium concentrations significantly affected the rate of germination, as the seeds exposed to 5 % concentration showed a 40% rate of germination. The root and shoot length decreased significantly with the increase in the concentration of Cr. The average shoot length of the seed exposed to 5% Cr concentration was 2.53 cm, while the average shoot length for the control group was 12.69 cm. Similar results were evident in the root length as the least development was visible in the 5% concentration, which only grew 2.82cm, while the longest root length was recorded in the control, i.e. 8.28 cm. These results prove that heavy metal contamination negatively affects plant growth. This could be due to the oxidative stress that plants face upon exposure to heavy metals, which leads to cellular damage.