Effect of cadmium, lead and nickel salt solutions on the germination and early growth of spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.)

摘要

The effects of lead, cadmium and nickel on the germination and early growth of spinach seedlings were investigated. The laboratory experiments were carried out in petri dishes that contained 1g of cotton wool as sowing medium under photo and non-photo periodic conditions. The results of the study showed the coefficient of germination velocity of the spinach seeds decreased with increase in concentrations of the metal solutions in the media. The results also showed that lead, cadmium and nickel did not inhibit germination of spinach seeds but impaired the growth and seedling establishment. The spinach seedlings tolerated more of lead than either cadmium or nickel. The highest concentration of each of the metals that did not support seedling growth is in the sequence nickel