Effect of Nickel, Copper and Iron on Seed Germination and Root-Shoot Growth of Endemic Alyssum discolor (Brassicaceae)

In this study, the effect of some heavy metals(Ni, Cu and Fe) in the form of chloride salt at different concentrations (0.2-5.0 mM) on seed germination and root-shoot growth of endemicAlyssum discolorwas investigated. Also, Ni, Cu and Fe contents of above-ground parts ofA. discolorwere determined by Inductively Couple Plasma- cvOptical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Seeds were sown on the double-layer rough filter papers which were soaked with swelling medium liquid in the plastic petri-dishes, with 25 seeds on each dishes. Immediately after sowing, the petri-dishes were covered and kept into oven to germinate in the dark at 23-24 oC for 72 hours.At the end of 72 hours, the germination rates of seeds were determined on the basis of the emergence of the radicle and root and shootlengths of the germinated seeds in each group were measured. It was determined that root and shootlengths decreased significantly (P <0.05) due to concentration increase in Ni and Cu applications except Fe, while seed germination decreased in parallel with the increase in applied heavy metal concentrations. The concentration of Ni that contained in A. discolorcollected from a non-serpentine area was found to be 13.48 ± 0.44 mg/kg. It can be concluded that A. discolordoes not show Ni hyperaccumulatorpropertyas its Ni concentration of the shootdry weight ofA. discoloris less than 1000 mg/kg and therefore it is affected by Ni and cannot tolerate it