Toxic effect of mercury and cadmium on germination and seedling growth of Cajanus cajan L (Pigeon Pea)

The effect of mercury chloride and cadmium chloride on seed germination, root, shoot length and dry biomass of cajanus cajan L. was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The seeds of cajanus cajan L. (Pigeon pea) were germinated in different concentrations of (0,15,10,20,50 mg/L) mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride. The germination parameters like germination percentage, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of 10 days seedlings showed a decreasing trend with the increase in concentration of mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride. Hg and Cd showed significant inhibition of root elongation and the inhibition was more pronounced in the seedlings treated with cadmium.