Investigation the Effects of Cadmium Chloride and Copper Sulfate on Germination and Seedling Growth of Agropyron elongatum

Abstract

Toleration of germination and embryonic growth stage to heavy elements is as a key of plant establishment under limited conditions. In this study effects of two heavy metals, cadmium and copper sulfate and their interplays were evaluated on germination and growth of A. elongatum. Therefore A. elongatum seeds after disinfectant, placed on watman paper and influenced by cadmium (10, 20 and 30 mg L ). Distilled water was used as control treatment. Each treatment had 4 replications and there were 25 seeds for each replication. Germination of seeds was evaluated everyday and growth index was determined by measuring of root length, shoot length, seedling length and seed vigurity index. Results indicated that there weren't significant differences among the treatment of germination percentage and speed but length of roots, length of shoots, length of seedling and vigurity index reduced significantly by application of these heavy metals. Root length reduced from 6.2 cm in the control to 2.4 cm at 30 mg L -1 Cd solution but it reduced from 6.3 cm in the control to 4.1 cm at 30 mg L -1 Cu solution. Shoot length was reduced from 9.2 cm in the control to 4.6cm at 30 mg L -1 Cd solution and reduced from 9.4cm in control to 5.6 cm at 30 mg/L Cu solution.

Assessing germination characteristics of Australian native plant species in metal/metalloid solution

“…Germination percentage of Zea mays was not affected at 12 ppm (equivalent to 188.82 µM Cu) but root and shoot length of the seedlings were greatly reduced at the same concentration of Cu [59]. Root length of 6-day-old seedlings of Triticum aestivum L. was reduced at 50 ppm Cu (CuSO4.5H2O) (equivalent to 200.64 µM Cu) [60] and root and shoot length of Agropyron elongatum seedlings was reduced at 30 mg/L Cu (equivalent to 472.06 µM Cu) [61]. Other species showed higher tolerance to Cu, such as Pisum sativum, where seed germination percentage was reduced at 80 ppm Cu (equivalent to 1258.85 µM Cu) [62], maximum inhibition of seed germination percentage and decrease of shoot and root length of Cassia angustifolia Vahl occurred at 200 mg/L Cu (3147.12 µM Cu) [63] and reductions of germination rate of Oryza sativa L. cv.…”

Salinity in soil increased cadmium uptake and accumulation potential of two terrestrial plants

“…Cadmium (Cd) is easily absorb and accumulate by plants due to its strong bio-accumulative capacity (Hadi et al, 2014). Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under Cd stress damage cellular structures, which cause reduction in crops yield while Cd accumulation in edible parts of plants compromise the quality of food (Shafi et al, 2011).Consumption of contaminated food by humans result in serious health problems and even death (Saberi and Shahriari, 2011). Cadmium has been reported as a potential carcinogen and can cause damage of liver and kidneys (Ali and Hadi, 2015).…”

An investigation into the use of Australian native plants and designer metal-binding particles for remediation of metal-contaminated landscapes

“…Germination percentage of Zea mays was not affected at 12 ppm (equivalent to 188.82 µM Cu) but root and shoot lengths of the seedlings were greatly reduced at the same concentration of Cu (Mahmood et al, 2005). Root length of 6-day-old seedlings of Triticum aestivum L. was reduced at 50 ppm Cu (CuSO 4 .5H 2 O) (equivalent to 200.64 µM Cu) (Gang et al, 2013) and root and shoot length of Agropyron elongatum seedlings was reduced at 30 mg/L Cu (equivalent to 472.06 µM Cu) (Saberi and Shahriari, 2011). Other species showed higher tolerance to Cu, such as Pisum sativum, where seed germination percentage was reduced at 80 ppm Cu (equivalent to 1258.85 µM Cu) (Kunjam et al, 2015), maximum inhibition of seed germination percentage and decrease of shoot and root length of Cassia angustifolia Vahl occurred at 200 mg/L Cu (3147.12 µM Cu) (Nanda and Agrawal, 2016) and reductions of germination rate of Oryza sativa L. cv.…”