The effect of different concentrations of potassium dichromate on.some antioxidants contents and growth in Zea mays L

Heavy metals are defined as the group of elements with an atomic density greater than 5 gcm-3. Existence of heavy metals can affect growth and physiology of plants. Chromium is a transition metal located in group VI-B of the periodic table that is the seventh and most abundant element on earth and a highly toxic non-essential metal for microorganisms and plants. This study was performed in a complementary randomized design with six level of chromium (0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg kg-1) and four replication, in the research greenhouse of the Kharazmi University. Results indicated that increasing of chromium concentration significantly decreased the dry weight and fresh weight of shoots and roots. Moreover Chla, Chlb, Chl(a+b), carotenoids contents, growth ratio and RWC significantly decreased in the whole plants with increasing potassium dichromate, whereas flavonoids and anthocyanins were increased. The results indicated that proline amount of shoots and roots was were increased.