1Department of Biotechnology, S.V.B.P. University Agriculture and Technology, Meerut-250110, India.
2Division of Genetics, I.A.R.I., New Delhi-110012, India.
3Division of Plant Physiology, I.A.R.I., New Delhi-110012, India.
4Directorate of Research, S.V.B.P. University Agriculture and Technology, Meerut-250110, India.
*E-mail: rajendrak64@yahoo.co.in
The effect of nickel on germination and early seedling growth was observed in two varieties of Cicer arietinum i.e.,. Pusa 1103 and Pusa 1105. The salts used were chlorides, nitrates and sulphates of nickel. Concentration of metals used was 0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg ml −1 and it was observed that lower concentration of the metal enhanced the rate of germination, but higher concentrations retarded not only the initiation of germination but also the total germination percentage. There was fundamental difference in the initial germination pattern among different concentrations of metals. Almost all the seeds with the lower nickel treatments produced fully expanded cotyledons after the emergence of the radicle. Higher doses of metals totally inhibited radicle elongation and resulted in the death of the plants. The toxicity of different nickel salts varied in respect of seed germination in both the varieties. Exposure to 5 and 10 μg ml−1 nickel salts resulted in an increase in top root length, dry weight and chlorophyll contents of the plants.
Nickel, Cicer arietinum L., toxicity germination, chlorophyll
