Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is an abundant heavy metal with highly toxic effects on living organisms. The aim of the presented study was to investigate the effect of seed priming using salicylic acid on cadmium tolerance in lettuce. The tolerance level was evaluated through germination speed and percentage, fresh and dry seedling weight, water and photosynthetic pigments content. Control seeds were primed with distilled water. In control plants cadmium induced reduction in germination rate, fresh and dry weight, water and chlorophyll content. Seed priming using salicylic acid, on the other hand, induced increased resistance of lettuce to cadmium toxicity. Increase in germination rate, fresh mass and water content were recorded for plants subjected to 5 mM Cd, grown from seeds primed with salicylic acid. Alleviation of Cd stress was evident through chlorophyll content as well, where smaller decrease in primed plants was recorded comparing to the control. The results obtained in this study suggest that salicylic acid can be used as priming agent in order to alleviate Cd toxicity in lettuce.
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