Biochemical and physiological responses to epibrassinosteroid and melatonin application against potassium dichromate in Zea mays

Heavy metals can show toxic and poisonous effects even at low concentrations due to their high concentrations. In this study, the effects of exogenously applied epibrassinosteroid and melatonin on some biochemical and physiological responses in Zea mays L. plants exposed to potassium dichromate stress were evaluated. For this purpose, 0.5 mM epibrassinosteroid (EpiBr) and 100 mM melatonin (MT) were applied separately to Zea mays L. seeds obtained from May Tohumculuk before sowing. After germination, plants were exposed to Cr stress with 5 mM and 10 mM concentrations of K₂ Cr₂ O₇ solutions on the 21st day. In these groups, pigment analysis, enzyme analysis (SOD, POD, CAT, GST, GSH, GR), Cr determination, MDA analysis, total soluble protein determination and relative water content analysis were performed on samples taken on the 1st, 3rd and 5th days and the changes between the groups were evaluated comparatively. In this research, it was determined that Cr has a toxic effect on plants at increasing concentrations, but these harmful effects can be eliminated with important phytohormones such as MT and EpiBr.