Pumpkin Seeds Germination and Seedling Growth under Abiotic Stress

Abstract

Cucurbita pepo L. is one of the most important crops that belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, an herbaceous, perennial, and polymorphic vegetable that grows also in tropical conditions. Pumpkin fruit contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals, and biologically active substances. The pumpkin seed oil contains high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids and is effective in treating different health conditions. Nevertheless, on the other hand, there have been reports that pumpkin tends to collect small amounts of nitrate or heavy metals. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the effect of organic matter (humic acid) on the germination and activity of antioxidant enzymes, glycosylate cycle enzymes, and utilization of lipid and protein reserves of pumpkin seeds under cadmium stress conditions.