Tolerance of chia seeds to copper

Abstract

Environmental contamination by toxic metals has become a serious problem to plants, animals, and humans. Among the toxic metals in the environment, copper (Cu) is the most important contaminant and, when in excess in water and soil, can disturb the growth and development of plants, decreasing the productivity of crops. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance of chia seeds to copper. The seeds were place on paper soaked in aqueous solutions of copper at concentrations of zero (distilled water), 60, 120, 180, and 240 mg L-1. The parameters evaluated were percentage of germination, primary count, total, shoot and root length, and dry mass of the seedlings. An increase in concentration of copper in the substrate promoted a significant decrease in seed germination, growth, and dry mass of the chia seedlings. It is concluded that, during the germination phase, chia seeds moderately tolerate exposure to Cu, up to 180 mg L-1, but can be intolerant at higher concentrations.