ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Cadmium on Seed Germination,
Coleoptile Growth, and Root Elongation
of Six Pulses
Ling Tao1,2, Meiying Guo1,2, Jun Ren1,2
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1School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University,
Lanzhou 730070, Lanzhou, 730070, P. R. China
2Engineering Research Center for Cold and Arid Regions Water Resource Comprehensive Utilization,
Ministry of Education, Lanzhou, 730070, P. R. China
Submission date: 2014-05-05
Final revision date: 2014-08-27
Acceptance date: 2014-09-03
Publication date: 2015-02-06
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(1):295-299
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ABSTRACT
The ecotoxicological effects of Cd2+ on germination and early seedling growth of six pulses were investigated.
Seeds of these plants were exposed to seven different concentrations of Cd (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6,
and 3.2 mM). The results indicated that root and coleoptile growth of six pulse plants were more sensitive than
seed germination for measurement of toxic Cd2+ pollution. Different species show different levels of tolerance
to Cd2+ pollution. V. angularis and Dumasia villosa are the most sensitive to Cd2+, and their germination percentage,
and root and coleoptile growth were significantly lower than other tested species. By contrast, Vigna
radiata and Lablab purpureus are the most resistant species, their germination and seedling growth almost
were not influenced by Cd2+ pollution significantly compared to control. There were significantly negative correlations
between seedling growth and increasing concentrations of Cd2+ for V. angularis. V. angularis and
Dumasia villosa are the most sensitive to Cd2+. By contrast, Vigna radiata and Lablab purpureus are the most
resistant species.