Seeds germination and roots length in cadmium polluted soils

Abstract

The most frequently soils pollution consist the heavy metal ions contamination, having extremely serious effects both on ecosystems and human health. In this context, a method for decontamination of soils contained heavy metal ions is phytoremediation, which consist in the use of plant species in order to extraction, stabilization and/or neutralization of soil pollutants. For biomonitoring and establishing the parameters of this method, first, the phytotoxicity tests are needed. This causes the maximum dose of heavy metal ions which do not cause a negative effect on plants, even from germination process. Phytotoxicity tests measure the decrease or absence of germination and root length, in just a few days of exposure seeds to contaminated soil, in comparison with unpolluted soil. This study aimed to determine the Cd2+ toxicity in seeds germination and root length of bioaccumulating plants such as white mustard (Sinapis alba), rape (Brassica juncea) and triticale (Triticosecale rimpau), at different Cd2+ concentrations.