Effect of Pb Exposure on Germination and Morphological Characteristics of Brassica nigra, Cicer arietinum L. Seedlings

Abstract

The increasing industrialization and modernization have resulted in introducing varieties of contaminants including heavy metals in soil, which directly and/ or indirectly negatively affect plant species. Lead (Pb) is a powerful toxicant that affects many physiological and metabiological processes in plants, leading to Pb toxicity. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of various concentrations of Pb on the growth of Brassica nigra and to understand its bioaccumulation efficiency. Soils supplemented with Pb (10-100 ppm) were used to grow Brassica nigra and Cicer arietinum seeds under controlled conditions. The in vitro experiments proved that with increasing Pb concentration, there was retardation in the growth of the plants. The concentration of 100 ppm adversely affected the seed germination, root and shoot length, biomass, and chlorophyll content with noticeable effects on plant cells. However, the plants were able to accumulate a significant amount of Pb with increasing concentration. The results provided a hope to use such phyto- accumulators as an environment-friendly, cost-effective, and clean method for the treatment of metal-contaminated soils, and also contributing towards sustainable agriculture.