THE INFLUENCE OF SOME HEAVY METALS ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH AT FESTUCA PRATENSIS

The paper presents the results of a study concerning the influence of different concentrations of Pb, Ni, and Cd on some physiological, biochemical and morphological indicators during the dynamic of the process of seed germination and in the incipient phases of seedling growth. The results underline the specific variations of the analysed indicators (water and dry substance content, content of total mineral elements, activities of some enzymes - catalase, peroxydase superoxiddismutase-, content of assimilating pigments, respiration intensity, lengths of koleoptile and koleorhiza), depending on the nature of metals and their concentrations used for the seed treatments . Regardless to the concentration, Ni, Pb, and Cd determine the intensification of peroxidase activity, indicator for underlining the state of stress as well as the increase of the content of carotenoidic pigments. Ni in concentration of 50ppm and 300ppm determines a hydrological unbalance, inhibating the seed germination and the growth in length of the koleoptile and koleorhiza.