The effect that nickel, copper, and zinc salts have on seed germination and initial ontogenesis of water parsnip (Sium latifolium L.) and wood club-rush (Scirpus silvaticus L.)

• Published in: Inland water biology 2011-10, Vol.4 (4), p.468-474
• Main Author: Krylova, E. G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Toxicology; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Life Sciences
• ISSN: 1995-0829; 1995-0837
• DOI: 10.1134/S1995082911030138

The effect that nickel, copper, and zinc sulfates have on seed germination and the initial stages of the ontogenesis of water parsnip and wood club-rush has been investigated. Nickel and copper in the concentration range of 250–500 mg/l and zinc at a concentration of 500 mg/l were the most toxic for water parsnip seeds, while, for the wood club-rush seeds, maximum toxicity was observed at Ni and Cu concentrations ranging from 50 to 500 mg/l and at Zn concentrations of 250–500 mg/l. The development of water parsnip seedlings was normal at Ni concentrations of 1–25 mg/l, Cu concentrations of 1–10 mg/l, and Zn concentrations up to 50 mg/l; the development of wood club-rush seedlings was normal at a Ni concentration of 1 mg/l, and Cu and Zn concentrations of 1–25 mg/l. A further increase in the concentration caused photosynthesis suppression, slower growth of the vegetation organs, and their subsequent necrosis. Water parsnip is more resistant to the toxicants.