Abstract
Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) contamination infiltration in soil due to industrial activities has become a sever threat to Pakistan's agricultural productivity. Recent surveys report soil chromium concentrations in agricultural-industrial interfaces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reaching 100 mg/kg, exceeding the WHO permissible limit (1.5 mg/kg) by more than 50-fold. Chickpea, a widely cultivated crop in Pakistan also faces productivity threats from Cr (VI). This study evaluates the differential seedling responses of two Pakistani chickpea varieties (CM-72 and CM-98) to hexavalent chromium stress (0µM to 100µM) under controlled conditions to address a critical research gap. A fully randomized experimental design (CRD) with five replicates per treatment was utilized, assessing germination metrics, root and shoot lengths, root collar diameter, and biomass over a period of 14 days. Statistical evaluations (ANOVA, Pearson correlation, PCA) indicated substantial varietal differences. Both varieties showed significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent reductions in germination rates, growth, and biomass; however, CM-72 exhibited greater tolerance. At a concentration of 100 µM Cr VI, CM-72 achieved 90% germination (compared to 80% in CM-98), with moderate declines in root length (39% compared to 77% in CM-98), shoot length (76% compared to 90%), and biomass (34% dry weight loss in comparison to 59% in CM-98). Multivariate analysis revealed strong associations between growth inhibition and chromium stress, with PCA differentiating between structural (root collar diameter) and temporal (germination delay) effects. These results highlight the resilience of CM-72, likely attributable to metabolic and antioxidative adaptations, making it a potential candidate for cultivation in areas contaminated with chromium. The relative tolerance of CM-72 may relate to underlying physiological or biochemical traits that warrant investigation in future studies. This research offers essential insights into the responses of chickpea varieties to Cr VI stress, highlighting the necessity for biochemical and molecular studies to clarify tolerance mechanisms and support sustainable agricultural practices in regions impacted by heavy metals.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Both varieties had significant dose-dependent reductions in germination, growth, and biomass.
- Taxon
- chickpea
Cicer arietinumt0 - Treatment
- chromium (VI) stresst0
- Outcome
- germination rates, growth, and biomasse0
- Direction
- reductionse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Both varieties showed significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent reductions in germination rates, growth, and biomass”
t0“chickpea varieties to hexavalent chromium (VI) stress”
Claim · model-written summary
CM-72 showed greater chromium tolerance than CM-98.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinumt0
- Material
- CM-72e0
- Outcome
- greater tolerancee0
- Comparator
- CM-98e2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“however, CM-72 exhibited greater tolerance.”
t0“chickpea varieties”
t1“Differential seedling responses of chickpea varieties to hexavalent chromium (VI) stress under controlled conditions”
e1“however, CM-72 exhibited greater tolerance.”
e2“At a concentration of 100 µM Cr VI, CM-72 achieved 90% germination (compared to 80% in CM-98)”
Claim · model-written summary
At 100 µM Cr VI, CM-72 germination was 90% versus 80% for CM-98.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinumt0
- Material
- CM-72e0
- Treatment
- 100 µM Cr VIe0
- Outcome
- germinatione0
- Direction
- compared toe0
- Value
- 90%e0
- Qualifier
- 80%e0
- Comparator
- CM-98e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At a concentration of 100 µM Cr VI, CM-72 achieved 90% germination (compared to 80% in CM-98)”
t0“chickpea varieties”
Claim · model-written summary
Root length declined 39% in CM-72 versus 77% in CM-98.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinumt0
- Material
- CM-72e1
- Treatment
- 100 µM Cr VIe2
- Outcome
- root lengthe0
- Direction
- declinese0
- Value
- 39%e0
- Qualifier
- 77%e0
- Comparator
- CM-98e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“moderate declines in root length (39% compared to 77% in CM-98)”
t0“chickpea varieties”
t1“Differential seedling responses of chickpea varieties to hexavalent chromium (VI) stress under controlled conditions”
e1“however, CM-72 exhibited greater tolerance.”
e2“At a concentration of 100 µM Cr VI, CM-72 achieved 90% germination (compared to 80% in CM-98)”
Claim · model-written summary
Shoot length declined 76% in CM-72 versus 90% in CM-98.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinumt0
- Material
- CM-72e1
- Treatment
- 100 µM Cr VIe2
- Outcome
- shoot lengthe0
- Value
- 76%e0
- Qualifier
- 90%e0
- Comparator
- CM-98e2
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“shoot length (76% compared to 90%)”
t0“chickpea varieties”
t1“Differential seedling responses of chickpea varieties to hexavalent chromium (VI) stress under controlled conditions”
e1“however, CM-72 exhibited greater tolerance.”
e2“At a concentration of 100 µM Cr VI, CM-72 achieved 90% germination (compared to 80% in CM-98)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biomass dry weight loss was 34% in CM-72 versus 59% in CM-98.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinumt0
- Material
- CM-72e1
- Treatment
- 100 µM Cr VIe2
- Outcome
- biomasse0
- Direction
- losse0
- Value
- 34% dry weight losse0
- Qualifier
- 59%e0
- Comparator
- CM-98e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biomass (34% dry weight loss in comparison to 59% in CM-98)”
t0“chickpea varieties”
t1“Differential seedling responses of chickpea varieties to hexavalent chromium (VI) stress under controlled conditions”
e1“however, CM-72 exhibited greater tolerance.”
e2“At a concentration of 100 µM Cr VI, CM-72 achieved 90% germination (compared to 80% in CM-98)”
Claim · model-written summary
Growth inhibition was strongly associated with chromium stress.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinumt0
- Treatment
- chromium stresse0
- Outcome
- growth inhibitione0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Multivariate analysis revealed strong associations between growth inhibition and chromium stress”
t0“chickpea varieties”
Claim · model-written summary
PCA distinguished structural root collar diameter effects from temporal germination delay effects.
- Taxon
- chickpeaCicer arietinumt0
- Outcome
- differentiating between structural (root collar diameter) and temporal (germination delay) effectse0
- Comparator
- temporal (germination delay) effectse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“with PCA differentiating between structural (root collar diameter) and temporal (germination delay) effects.”
t0“chickpea varieties”
The same questions in other papers
chromium atom · growth · Cicer arietinum (chickpea)Results differ
1 paper in the same direction as this paper · 3 in the opposite direction
- positive
- negative
- negative
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