Effects of Some Heavy Metals on Seed Germination Characteristics of Canola (Barassica napus), Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Safflower (Carthamus tinctorious) to Evaluate Phytoremediation Potential of These Crops

Heavy metal pollutants are the main concern of new agricultural productions. Industrial products and using synthetic materials leads to drastically increase in concentration of different heavy metals in the environment. Lead and Cadmium are two famous heavy metals which are largely used in electronic industries thus the waste water of factories could pollute agricultural lands. Different heavy metal solutions were investigated for their effects on seed germination characteristics and phytoremediation potential of two oil crops ( canola, Brassica napusandsafflower, Carthamustinctorious) and a cereal crop (wheat, Triticumaestivum). The Canola, Safflower and Wheat seeds were germinated after treatments in solutions containing varying concentrations of heavy metals. Five different concentrations of heavy metals including (BiNO3, BiNO3, CdNO3, Sr (NO3)2, ZnNO3) at 50, 200, 350, 500, 1000 ppm and distilled water considered as control treatment. Results showed that in all treatments the percentage of seed germination, root and shoot length decreased as concentrations of solution increased. No germination was observed at 1000 ppm of cadmium level. Root and seedling vigor increased by application of 200 ppm of BiNO3. There were no seedling growth at 350 and 500 ppm of cadmium and lead concentration.