Heavy metals (HMs) accumulation in soil beyond threshold limits is one of the major threats to crop yield and productivity. Chromium (Cr) is a HM. Trace amounts of Cr in soil act as micronutrient for plants but its higher concentrations are deleterious and act as environmental pollutant. Cr toxicity in plants induces delayed seed germination and reduction in root growth, biomass, plant height, chlorosis, necrosis, low grain yield and ultimately plant death. Red chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is a daily used spice and popular plant of family Solanaceae, thus having nutritional and economic significance. Like other food crops, Chili also absorbs heavy metals in its roots, shoots and fruits due to which its growth, development and production is reduced. In the present study the effects of five doses of Chromium (Cr VI) as K₂Cr₂O₇ on three varieties of Chili (Capsicum annuum) Moon star, Abbott chili seeds and Rashid chili seeds were studied. Ten seeds from each variety were placed in Petri dishes on a double layer of Whatman filter paper soaked in distilled water (serving as the control) and in solutions of K₂Cr₂O₇ with concentrations of 100, 300, 500, 700, and 900 micro molar. Seed germination, root length, number of leaves, and dry weights of the seedlings were significantly affected by different treatments of Cr. Varieties also exhibited significant difference in their response to chromium stress. Overall our results indicated that variety Moon star was most tolerant and variety Rashid chili was least tolerant to Cr. Moreover the threshold lethal concentration for chili in this experiment was found to be 700µM beyond which (at 900µM) chili plants died just after germination.

Key words; Chromium toxicity, Heavy metals accumulation, Red chili (Capsicum annuum L.), Soil contamination, Varietal differences