The Effect of Some Heavy Metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and Substrates on Chelidonium majus L. Seed Germination and Seedling Growth

The increasing heavy metal presence in the environment affects plant growth and physiology, seed production and crop quality. Moreover, it could indirectly influence people's health and the quality of the environment. Chelidonium majus L. is an object of study in order to investigate its sensitivity to the toxic effects of heavy metals because of its growth in populated areas and common occurrence. The results of this study revealed that the heavy metal influence on seed germination and seedling growth depended on the type and concentration of the heavy metals and the type of the substrate they supplemented. The studied heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) did not inhibit the germination of the seeds on filter paper but retarded root and hypocotyl growth on this substrate, except Pb 2+ , which did not. On agar substrate the metals inhibited both the germination (excl. Pb 2+ ) and seedling growth regardless of concentrations applied