Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/26.3.4642
Effects of cadmium, copper, and zinc on germination and post-germination growth of chia seeds
Ilyass KICHCHOU
; Department of Biology, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
Khalid IDAHMED
; Department of Biology, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco
Saad FAROUK
; Plant Stress physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Art and Science, Sinop University, Turkey
Cherkaoui EL MODAFAR
; Centre d’Agrobiotechnologie et Bioingénierie, Unité de Recherche Labellisée CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URLCNRST-05), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
Abdelghani CHAKHCHAR
; Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Bio-ressources, Environnement et Matériaux (LIRBEM), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
In recent years, concerns regarding environmental pollution and its impact on agricultural production have intensified due to the ongoing dispersal of heavy metals. This study investigated the ecotoxicological effects of three heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)) on the germination and post-germination growth of chia (Salvia hispanica). Except for the notable 18.2% decrease in germination rate with Zn treatment on the first day, the germination rates of metallic-stressed chia seeds did not significantly differ from the control for the other metals. However, the parameters related to post-germination growth were negatively impacted in varied ways by the metal treatments, causing a significant hindrance in radicle elongation (ranging from 56.3% to 81.6%) and hypocotyl elongation (from 27.1% to 76.5%), as well as a notable decrease in both fresh and dry biomasses. The most significant reduction in radicle and hypocotyl elongation occurred with Zn and Cd treatment. The largest decrease in fresh and dry biomass was seen in the radicle and hypocotyl under Zn exposure. The tolerance index demonstrated that chia showed the greatest ecotoxicological tolerance to Cu, followed by Cd and Zn. This suggests that chia has potential for cultivation in polluted areas, particularly those contaminated with Cu.
Keywords
heavy metal stress; biomass; chia; tolerance; radicle; hypocotyl
Hrčak ID:
335562
URI
Publication date:
17.9.2025.
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