| Author(s) | M.N. Al-Yemeni and A.A. Al-Helal |
| Affiliation | Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud Univeristy, P.O.Box: 2455, Riyadh-11451, Saudi Arabia |
| Title | Effect of Zinc Chloride and Lead Nitrate on Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Rice and Alfalfa |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Science. Volume 15, No 1. (2003/1423) |
| Abstract | Abstract. The effect of different concentrations of ZnCl2 (0.5 to 100 mM), Pb(NO3)2 (0.5 to 50 mM) and of NaCl and KCl (25 to 300 mM) on seed germination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. Cv. Al-Ahsaa) seedlings after 4 days of incubation were investigated. Seed germination and seedling growth were inhibited significantly by ZnCl2 and Pb(NO3)2 due to heavy metal toxicity, as was evidnced by the effect of NaCl and KCl. Rice seed germination was more tolerant to heavy metals than alfalfa. In rice root growth was more sensitive to heavy metals than shoot growth, while the latter was more sensitive to KCl and NaCl salt stress. |
