Alleviation of Cadmium Toxicity on the Germination Characteristics of Balangu [Lallemantia royleana (Benth.) Benth.] and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Seeds by using Ascorbic Acid

The present research aimed to investigate the effect of different concentrations of cadmium and ascorbic acid on some characteristics of germination and early growth of balangu [Lallemantia royleana (Benth.) Benth.] and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). This experiment was as a factorial layout based on a completely randomized design with two factors and three repetitions. The experimental treatments included four levels of cadmium sulfate ۰, ۲۰, ۴۰, and ۶۰ mg l-۱ and three levels of ascorbic acid ۰, ۲۰۰, and ۴۰۰ mg l-۱. The results showed that the increase in the concentration of cadmium caused a decrease in the length of the radicle, the number of normal seedlings, germination percentage, seed germination, seedling weight, and of course, an increase in the weight of the balangu plumule.  In basil, root length decreased by ۲۹.۱, ۱۸.۶, and ۳۵.۲% in treatments with ۲۰, ۴۰, and ۶۰ mg l-۱ of Cd compared to the control. In other words, radicle length significantly declined with rising Cd concentration from ۰ to ۶۰ mg l-۱. Ascorbic acid improved the characteristics of the length of the radicle, germination rate, and percentage in balangu. In addition, ascorbic acid mitigated the negative effects of cadmium and increased the number of normal balangu seedlings, especially at concentrations of ۴۰ and ۶۰ mg l-۱ of cadmium. Basil root length increased with ۲۰۰ and ۴۰۰ mg l-۱ of ascorbic acid application. In general, it seems that seed pretreatment with ascorbic acid could be used as a strategy to moderate the negative effects of Cd stress.

کلیدواژه ها:

Heavy metals ، germination percentage ، early growth ، Medicinal plants ، Seed vigor