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Germination and root elongation bioassays in six different plant species for testing Ni contamination in soil.

Germination and root elongation bioassays in six different plant species for testing Ni contamination in soil.

Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology (2013-11-30)

Giovanna Visioli, Federica D Conti, Ciro Gardi, Cristina Menta

ABSTRACT

In vitro short-term chronic phytotoxicity germination and root elongation test were applied to test the effects of nickel (Ni) in seed germination and root elongation in six plants species: Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae), Lepidium sativum and Brassica nigra (Brassicaceae), Trifolium alexandrinum and Medicago sativa (Fabaceae), Phacelia tanacetifolia (Boraginaceae). A naturally Ni rich soil was used to compare the results obtained. Unlike root elongation, germination was not affected by Ni in any of the six species tested. EC50 values, calculated on the root elongation, showed that Ni toxicity decreases in the following order: P. tanacetifolia > B. nigra > C. sativus > L. sativum > M. sativa > T. alexandrinum. The test conducted using soil elutriate revealed a significantly lower effect in both seed germination and root elongation when compared to the results obtained using untreated soil. Conversely, the test performed on soil confirmed the high sensitivity of C. sativus, P. tanacetifolia and L. sativum to Ni.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich

Nickel, rod, diam. 6.35 mm, ≥99.99% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Nickel, powder, <50 μm, 99.7% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Nickel, foil, thickness 0.5 mm, 99.98% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Nickel, wire, diam. 0.5 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Nickel, nanopowder, <100 nm avg. part. size, ≥99% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Nickel, foil, thickness 0.1 mm, 99.98% trace metals basis

Nickel, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.98%

Nickel, foil, 150x300mm, thickness 0.25mm, annealed, 99.98%

Nickel, mesh, 30x30mm, nominal aperture 0.34mm, thickness 0.025mm, wire diameter 0.041mm, 70 wires/inch, open area 80%, electro-formed mesh, 99.9%

Nickel, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.25mm, as rolled, 99.99+%

Nickel, foil, not light tested, 300x300mm, thickness 0.0125mm, annealed, 99%

Nickel, wire reel, 10m, diameter 0.25mm, hard, 99.98%

Nickel, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%

Nickel, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.038mm, 99.9%

Nickel, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.004mm, hard, 99%

Nickel, foil, 25x25mm, thickness 0.25mm, annealed, 99%

Nickel, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.025mm, coil width 600mm, as rolled, 99%

Nickel, foil, 150x300mm, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.98%

Nickel, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.05mm, as rolled, 100%

Nickel, rod, 1000mm, diameter 6.35mm, 99%

Nickel, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.075mm, annealed, 99%

Nickel, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.007mm, 99.95%

Nickel, wire reel, 10m, diameter 0.4mm, as drawn, 99%

Nickel, foil, 2m coil, thickness 0.025mm, annealed, 99%

Nickel, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 1.0mm, as rolled, 99.99+%

Nickel, wire reel, 1m, diameter 0.4mm, as drawn, 99.99+%

Nickel, wire reel, 10m, diameter 0.01mm, as drawn, 99.98%

Nickel, wire reel, 100m, diameter 0.025mm, as drawn, 99.98%

Nickel, foil, 4mm disks, thickness 0.003mm, 99.95%

Nickel, wire reel, 0.1m, diameter 0.75mm, as drawn, 99.99+%