Effects of different levels of heavy metals on seed germination and seedling growth of three Eucalyptus species

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Researcher, Biotechnology Research Department, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands

2 - Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, P.O. Box 13185-116, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Intensive human activities such as urban, industrial, agriculture and traffic leads to indirect destruction of the human environment such as air pollution, water table contamination,… by pesticides, nitrates, organic contaminants and heavy metals. In such areas use of plants that have the capability to store the heavy metals can be economically effective. This research was carried out to estimate the effects of four heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) on three Eucalyptus species, including E. camaldulensis, E. microtheca and E. occidentalis. 16 treatments (every metal in 3 levels combination of 4 metals in 3 levels and control) in a factorial design in base of completely randomized design in a growth chamber was carried out. One way analysis of variance used to verify significance of 16 treatments on 6 characters such as height of radicle, height of plumule, vigor index, germination percentage, speed of germination and germination index, for each species. The result showed that the effects of the treatments and their interactions on seed and seedling characters were significant, except of the interaction on seed germination. The species performed different seed germination and seedling growth characters under different levels of heavy metals. Duncan analysis was used for classification of data. Results showed that E. microtheca had the greatest values of vigor index, germination speed, germination index, germination percentage and radicle length.

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References

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