Effects of lead and cadmium contamination on seed germination and enzyme activities in seed corn (Zea mays L.) KSC 704

In order to study of lead and cadmium effects onseed germination and enzyme activities an experiment was conducted in seed laboratory of department of agronomy in Islamic Azad University, Varamin, Iran in 2015 on seed corn. The experiment was installed in a completely randomized design, with treatments arranged in a factorial scheme with five levels of lead (0, 10, 40, 700 and 100 μM.Lit-1) by five levels cadmium application (0, 10, 40, 700 and 100 μM.Lit-1), with three replicates. The results showed that lead and cadmium effects treatment significantly for all experimental traits. Also with increased concentrations of heavy metals decreased germination percentage, germination rate , plumule dry weight, radicle dry weight, α-amylase enzyme and phosphatase enzyme activity, by contrast catalase enzyme activity was increased. Also interaction between lead and cadmium effect showed the lowest and greatest germination rate respectively 5.68 and 8.92 (Seed per day), radicle dry weight 0.34 and 0.66 (g), α-amylase enzyme 3.3 and 5.9 (IU. g FW-1) and phosphatase enzyme 0.9 and 4.3 (IU. g FW-1) activity was obtained when seed corn was exposure in 100 μM.Lit-1 to lead and cadmium used together respectively.