Reducing of cadmium stress effects on black seed (Nigella sativa) by glycinebetaine pretreatment of seeds

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most important heavy metals and its pollution causes toxic effects on plants and human beinges well. Glycine betaine (GB) is an osmoprotectant that its external application leads to decrease stress strains as well as heavy metal accumulation hazards. This experiment was conducted to study the effect of seed priming with GB on Cd reduction of damages in the black seed as factorial based on completely randomized design with 3 replications at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabil in 2012. For seed pretreatment، GB were applied with 0، 50، 100، 150 mM and Cadmium chloride with 0، 0. 25، 0. 5 mM concentrations. In this study، the germination percentage، germination rate، vigor index، length of radical، length of plumule، plumule / radical length ratio، total protein، catalase and peroxidase activity were measured. The results showed that with increasing of Cd concentration، germination percentage، germination rate، vigor index، radical length، plumule length، plumule / radical length ratio، total protein and catalase activity decreased، and Cd damaging effects diminished by increasing of GB pretreatment concentration،. Peroxidase activity enhanced with increasing Cd concentration. Also، higher concentrations of GB intensified enzyme activity.