Cadmium toxicity on seed germination and initial growth of chia

Raquel Stefanello,Luiz Augusto Salles Das Neves,Bruna Boucinha Viana

doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v41i1.42174

Raquel Stefanello, Luiz Augusto Salles Das Neves + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v41i1.42174

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Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing concern related to soil and water contamination due to the constant dispersal of toxic metals. In addition to their ecotoxicological potential, these elements exhibit a cumulative character that favors their permanence in soil and passage to living organisms, which can lead to an ecological imbalance. Among toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) is an obstacle to agriculture because it can adversely affect food quality and human health, as well as diminish plant growth and productivity. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of cadmium on seed germination and initial growth of chia. The ecotoxicological effects of four Cd concentrations (15; 30; 45; and 60 mg L-1) were evaluated. The response variables were germination percentage, first count, germination speed index, total length, shoot length, root length, seedling dry mass, and tolerance index. It is concluded that the presence and accumulation of Cd in the culture substrate played an inhibitory role in seed germination and initial seedling growth of chia starting at 15 mg L-1. On the other hand, no significant effect was observed for the treatments in relation to dry mass of the chia seedlings.

Highlights

The contamination of water and soils with toxic metals is a major environmental problem that can have negative consequences on the health of humans and other animals
Considering that high concentrations of Cd negatively affect seed germination, and believing that it is beneficial to know the effects of this toxic metal on germination, growth and development of chia plants, the goal of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of cadmium on seed germination and initial growth of chia with the objective of providing information that can be used when cultivating this species under this condition
To evaluate the toxic effect of Cd on the seed germination process of chia seeds, acquired from a company that produces and sells seeds in Burzaco, Argentina, were sown on a paper substrate moistened with aqueous solutions of cadmium chloride, at concentrations of zero, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg L-1

Summary

Introduction

The contamination of water and soils with toxic metals is a major environmental problem that can have negative consequences on the health of humans and other animals. Agricultural soils are continuously polluted with harmful toxic metals that contaminate water and impede the absorption of nutrients by plants, causing morphological, biochemical, physiological and structural changes (Augusto, Bertoli, Cannata, Carvalho, & Bastos, 2014). This hampers growth, causing a significant reduction in yield and loss in productivity (Yadav, 2010). Considering that high concentrations of Cd negatively affect seed germination, and believing that it is beneficial to know the effects of this toxic metal on germination, growth and development of chia plants, the goal of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of cadmium on seed germination and initial growth of chia with the objective of providing information that can be used when cultivating this species under this condition

Material and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusion