The Effect of Heavy Metals (Copper and Cadmium) on the Germination of Bell Pepper Seeds (Capsicum annuumL. var. Dariana Bac)

Gabriel Alin Iosob,Ion Sandu,Tina Oana Cristea,Ioan Gabriel Sandu,Valentin Nedeff,Maria Prisecaru

doi:10.37358/rc.19.9.7567

Abstract

Bell pepper seeds (Capsicum annum L. var Dariana Bac), variety patented by Vegetable Research and Development Station Bacau, were germinated on filter paper (Whatman No. 1) moistened with a range of solutions in different concentrations of Copper (20, 100, 250 �i 500 mg/kg soil) and Cadmium (1, 3, 5, 10 mg/kg soil). The solutions used are standard solutions of Cu and Cd (1 mg/mL in 5% HNO3). After 9 days the following indices were calculated: final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) and germination rate index (GRI). The variety of bell pepper Dariana Bac responded differently to different concentrations of the studied heavy metals, having an average germination percentage of 76.5 % on variants treated with standard Cd solution and an average germination percentage of only 29.4% on variants tested with Cu standard solution. Also, a decrease in the germination rate was observed with the increase of the concentration of Cu.

Highlights

CpeurcaenndtaCgde((1FmGPg)/m, mL einan5%geHrmNOin3a)t.ioAnftetrim9eda(MysGtTh)e, germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) and germination rate index (GRI)
This study shows a significant influence of the heavy metals (HM) (Cu and Cd) on the bell pepper seeds
Final germination percentage (FGP) shows that the germination process of the seeds of bell pepper is inhibited by the increased concentrations of Cu

Summary

Introduction

CpeurcaenndtaCgde((1FmGPg)/m, mL einan5%geHrmNOin3a)t.ioAnftetrim9eda(MysGtTh)e, germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) and germination rate index (GRI). FGP shows that the germination process of the seeds of bell pepper is inhibited by the increased concentrations of Cu. Instead Cd didn‘t show an MGT value in the fourth day on variant V1 (20 mg Cu/kg soil) - 1.37.

Results

Conclusion