An In vivo Study on Toxicological Alterations in Sesamum indicum L. Under Hexavalent Chromium Stress

The present in vivo pot culture experiments highlight various phytotoxic impacts of hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) in Sesamum indicum L. (Var-Amrit) (Oriya name Rasi) commonly called Sesame which is an important oil yielding plant grown in. . The periodic investigation of toxicological changes in response to growth parameters, physiological and biochemical alterations in plant were carried out at 15 days (pre flowering), 30 days (flowering) and 45 days (pod forming) exposure to varying concentrations of Cr+6 treatment. Stimulatory effect of Cr on plant height and shoot biomass was noticed for 45 days grown seedlings at 10 mg Cr /kg dry soil treatment where as plant dry biomass was increased at 50 mg Cr /kg dry soil treatment. Total chlorophyll and carotenoid content were adversely affected with increasing Cr concentration at 15 and 30 days growth periods but the reverse trend was observed at maturity of the plants after 45 days treatment. Maximum proline synthesis was noticed at 200 mg Cr /kg dry soil treatment for 30 days growth period of plants. The above study emphasizing the interrelationship between the different metabolic effects induced by chromium in a oil yielding plant like Sesamum indicum warrants intensive future research on the its bioaccumulation potential which enable the plant as a green tool for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.