The effect of heavy metals (copper and cadmium) on the germination of bell pepper seeds (Capsicum annuumL. Var. Dariana Bac)

Abstract

Bell pepper seeds (Capsicum annum L. var Dariana Bac), variety patented by Vegetable Research and Development Station Bacau, were germinated on filter paper (Whatman No. 1) moistened with a range of solutions in different concentrations of Copper (20, 100, 250'i 500 mg/kg soil) and Cadmium (1, 3, 5, 10 mg/ kg soil). The solutions used are standard solutions of Cu and Cd (1 mg/mL in 5% HNO3). After 9 days the following indices were calculated: final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), germination index (GI), coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) and germination rate index (GRI). The variety of bell pepper Dariana Bac responded differently to different concentrations of the studied heavy metals, having an average germination percentage of 76.5 % on variants treated with standard Cd solution and an average germination percentage of only 29.4% on variants tested with Cu standard solution. Also, a decrease in the germination rate was observed with the increase of the concentration of Cu.