Effects of seed treatment with copper and nickel on germination and growth of Sanguisorba minor L.

In this research the effects of seed treatment with 10, 20 and 30 milligrams per a liter of copper and nickel (two heavy metals) solution on seed germination and growth of Sanguisorba minor L. were studied. Sterilized seeds of the species were placed on filter paper soaked in solution of 10, 20 and 30 mg per liter of copper sulfate and nickel chloride for 10 days. Distilled water was also used as control treatment. The seeds germination of all the treatments with 4 replications (10 seeds in each replication) were studied and recorded every day during the 10 days, and the root and stem lengths of radicle and plumule of all the species were measured in the last day of the experiment as an indicator of growth rate. The results of ANOVA indicated that the seedling growths of the species were decreased significantly in all the copper and nickel treatments (p≤0.05). In other words the highest seedlings growths were observed in the control treatment. The least root and stem lengths were detected for the treatments of 20 mg/lit and 30 mg/lit copper solution, and 20 mg/lit nickel solution respectively. The minimum size of the species seedlings were detected under the treatments of 30 mg/lit copper solution. The lowest germination rate and speed, and seed vigor index were observed in the treatments of 30 mg/lit copper and 30 mg/lit nickel solution. This study indicated that the copper and nickel solution decrease the species growth significantly.