Effect of Cadmium on Seed Germination,Seedling Growth and Development of Wheat

In order to clarify the response of wheat cultivar Mianyang 19 to cadmium(Cd) stress,the effects of Cd on seed germination,seedling growth and physiological parameters of contents of vitamin C,free histidine and soluble sugar were studied.The results showed that cadmium significantly inhibited seed germination,but there were no significant differences among different Cd concentrations(P0.05).Seedling length was promoted under the low Cd concentration(1 mg · L-1),and then inhibited with the increasing of Cd concentration.Root was more sensitive to Cd than shoot.The content of vitamin C in seedlings increased significantly with the increasing of Cd concentration,being-15.5%,11.2%and 26.3%of the control.The levels of free histidine in seedlings of treatments increased by 28.6%,21.7%and 15.5% than of the control,respectively.The content of soluble sugar showed a tendency of decrease at first,then increase,and decrease in the last with increase of Cd concentrations.In conclusion,vitamin C content,histidine level and soluble sugar content could be used as early diagnosis indices for wheat seedling under Cd stress,of which vitamin C perhaps play important role in combating Cd stress.