Investigation the Effects of Cadmium Chloride and Copper Sulfate on Germination and Seedling Growth of Agropyron elongatum

Toleration of germination and embryonic growth stage to heavy elements is as a key of plant establishment under limited conditions. In this study effects of two heavy metals, cadmium and copper sulfate and their interplays were evaluated on germination and growth of A. elongatum. Therefore A. elongatum seeds after disinfectant, placed on watman paper and influenced by cadmium (10, 20 and 30 mg L-1) and copper sulfate (10, 20 and 30 mg L-1). Distilled water was used as control treatment. Each treatment had 4 replications and there were 25 seeds for each replication. Germination of seeds was evaluated everyday and growth index was determined by measuring of root length, shoot length, seedling length and seed vigurity index. Results indicated that there weren’t significant differences among the treatment of germination percentage and speed but length of roots, length of shoots, length of seedling and vigurity index reduced significantly by application of these heavy metals. Root length reduced from 6.2 cm in the control to 2.4 cm at 30 mg L-1 Cd solution but it reduced from 6.3 cm in the control to 4.1 cm at 30 mg L-1 Cu solution. Shoot length was reduced from 9.2 cm in the control to 4.6cm at 30 mg L-1 Cd solution and reduced from 9.4cm in control to 5.6 cm at 30 mg/L Cu solution.