Mississippi State University

About: Mississippi State University is a education organization based out in Starkville, Mississippi, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catfish. The organization has 14115 authors who have published 28594 publications receiving 700030 citations. The organization is also known as: The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science & Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science.

Phytoavailability and toxicity of trivalent and hexavalent chromium to Brassica juncea

Abstract: Summary • Brassica juncea is a potential candidate plant for phytoremediation of a number of heavy metals, but little is known about the phytotoxicity of chromium (Cr) for this plant in Cr(III)- and Cr(VI)-contaminated soils. • Chromium distribution and phytotoxicity at the whole plant and cellular levels were studied using chemical, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses. • Bioavailability of Cr in soils was low, but the uptake significantly increased at phytotoxic levels. Chromium from Cr(VI)-contaminated soils was more phytotoxic than from Cr(III)-contaminated soils. Chromium causes growth retardation, reduces the number of palisade and spongy parenchyma cells in leaves, results in clotted depositions in the vascular bundles of stems and roots, and increases the number of vacuoles and electron dense materials along the walls of xylem and phloem vessels. • Our results suggest that B. juncea is not a good candidate for phytoremediation of soils with lower Cr. However, it is able to accumulate significant amounts of Cr in both shoots and roots at higher soil-Cr concentrations despite severe phytotoxic symptoms.