Ecotoxicological effects of cadmium on the germination and initial development of Schinus terebinthifolius

Abstract

Plants can absorb cadmium from contaminated soils. This toxic metal can cause many negative effects on plant's morphophysiological development. The aim of this study was to determine the biometric aspects and to assess the ecotoxicological effects of cadmium on the germination and initial development of pepper mastic (Schinus terebinthifolius). The experiment followed a completely randomized design with treatments consisting of eight cadmium concentrations (0.0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8; 1.0; 2.0; 4.0 and 6.0 mM), with four replications. The response variables analyzed included: percentage of germination speed index (GSI), length of shoots and roots of seedlings. Cadmium caused high percentage of inhibition on the germination of S. terebinthifolius, presenting negative effects from 0.2 mM (35.2% inhibition) by 70.2% with 0.6 mM. In early seedling development, it was found that its presence interferes with the root growth more than with shoots. In both parts, cadmium interfered significantly from the concentration of 0.2 mM. However, the 0.4 mM concentration impacts are more pronounced in the root system development. In environments contaminated by cadmium, establishing the germination and development of this species may not be possible.

Caracterização morfométrica e efeitos ecotoxicológicos do chumbo na germinação de sementes de Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi

“…A S. terebinthifolius reduziu o seu G% para outro metal pesado tóxico (cádmio) somente a 0,6 mM, mas apresentou tendência similar de manter constante o G%, mesmo aumentando as concentrações do metal (SILVA et al, 2017a).…”

“…A germinação envolve processos iniciais do desenvolvimento da planta (SILVA et al, 2014) e a caracterização biométrica para avaliar os caracteres morfológicos da planta é importante para a uniformização de emergência das plântulas, promovendo a obtenção de mudas de melhor vigor (SILVA et al, 2017a).…”