July 2013 Vol. 1 No. 5

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Full Length Research Paper

Germination and seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds in toxicity of aluminum and nickel

Nasr N.

*Payame noor University, Faculty of science, Department of biology, Iran.

E-mail: nasr_na2002@yahoo.com

Accepted July 25, 2013

Abstract

Effect of Nickel and Aluminum toxicity on root, shoot and seedling length, seed germination and seedling dry biomass of maize was studied, compared to control values. Nickel and Aluminum treatments at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200mg/L affected on seed germinaton and seedling growth of maize as compared to control. Nickel treatments at 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200mg/L concentrations produce significant (p<0.05) effects on seed germination and seedling length of maize while nickel treatment at 150mg/L significantly affected root growth and seedling dry biomass as compared to control. Similarly Aluminum treatment from 50 to 200 mg/L affected the root, shoot and seedling length, seed germination and seedling dry biomass of maize as compared to control. Aluminum treatments revealed adverse effects on seedlings of maize as compared to Nickel. Nickel and Aluminum treatment at 200mg/L showed lowest percentage of tolerance in seedlings of maize as compared to control.

Keywords: Nickel, Aluminum, Zea mays, Seedling, Germination