Nickel translocation from seed during germination and growth of young maize plants

Effect of different concentrations of nickel (0, 10-5, 10-4, 10-3 and 10-2 mol Ni/dm3) present at the time of maize seed imbibition, on concentration, distribution and nickel accumulation coefficient in the root and the shoot, biological value of the seed and growth of young plants was investigated. It was found that during germination the nickel from the seed is intensively translocated to the root and shoot of young plants. With increase of applied concentrations of nickel, its concentration in the root and shoot increased as well. Nickel concentration and accumulation coefficient were higher in the root than in the shoot except at the highest applied concentration when the result was opposite. The highest applied concentration of nickel increased percentage of atypical seedlings and non-germinated seeds and decreased percentage of typical seedlings, germination energy and seed germination ability. Nickel implementation did not affect the growth and mass of the shoot. Root mass and length of the primary root decreased at the highest concentration of nickel, which led to change in shoot and root mass ratio. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that only the highest applied nickel concentration affected the biological value of the seed and the growth of young maize plants, regardless of its intensive accumulation in the root and the shoot, which indicates a significant tolerance of maize in initial phases of growth to presence of high nickel concentration. Intensive translocation of nickel during germination into newly formed organs points to its good mobility and potential possibility to enter the food chain from a contaminated seed.