Investigation of the effects of cadmium on seed germination indices and vigor of the medicinal plant Malva sylvestris L. to evaluate the potential for environmental conservation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Yasouj University, Yasouj,, Iran.

2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.

3 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.

10.22091/ethc.2025.12820.1057

Abstract

Objective: Heavy metal pollution in soils has become a major environmental issue, adversely affecting human health, living organisms, and ecosystems. Among these metals, cadmium—a non-essential element for plant growth—is readily absorbed by plants and induces toxicity. Plant tolerance and sensitivity to cadmium vary across species. Malva sylvestris L., a valuable medicinal plant widely used in traditional Iranian medicine, grows in diverse habitats that may be exposed to cadmium contamination. This study investigated the responses of M. sylvestris to cadmium stress during the early stages of growth.
Methods: Seed germination and vigor of three M. sylvestris seed populations were evaluated under cadmium concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L. The experiment was conducted on filter paper in a completely randomized design.
Results: Cadmium exposure reduced germination traits, including seedling length, seed vigor index, germination rate, and germination percentage of M. sylvestris. Population effects were significant only for germination percentage, germination rate, and plant fresh weight.
Conclusion: Cadmium treatment significantly inhibited seed germination and early growth parameters, indicating that Malva sylvestris L. exhibits low resistance to cadmium during the early stages of establishment.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Aghaei, K., Rahkhosravani, B., Moghanlu, L., & Ghotbi Ravandi, A. A. (2019). Analysis of cadmium accumulation and its effects on some biochemical and physiological characters of basil plants (Ocimum basilicum L.). Plant Process and Function, 8(33), 107-122. (in Persian)
Ansari, O., Gherekhloo, J., Kamkar, B., & Ghaderi-Far, F. (2016). Breaking seed dormancy and determining cardinal temperatures for Malva sylvestris using nonlinear regression. Seed Science and Technology, 44, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2016.44.3.05
Arduini, I., Godbold, D. A., & Onnis, A. (1994). Cadmium and copper change root growth and morphology of Pinus­ pinea and Pinus pinaster seedling. Physiologia Plantarum, 92, 675-680.
Briffa, J., Sinagra, E., & Blundell, R. (2020). Heavy metal pollution in the environment and their toxicological effects on humans. Heliyon, 6(9), e04691.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04691
Carvalho, M. E. A., Agathokleous, E., Nogueira, M. L., Brunetto, G., Brown, P. H., & Azevedo, R. A. (2023). Neutral-to-positive cadmium effects on germination and seedling vigor, with and without seed priming. Journal of Hazardus Material, 448, 130813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130813
Celka, Z., & Drapikowska, M. (2008). Relics of cultivation in Central Europ, Malva alcea L. as an example. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 17, 251-255.
Costa, G., & Spitz, E. (1997). Influence of cadmium on soluble carbohydrates, free amino acids, and protein content of in vitro cultured Lupinus albus. Plant Science, 128, 131-140.
Faizan, S., Kausar, S., & Perveen, R. (2011). Varietal differences for cadmium-induced seedling mortality, foliar toxicity symptoms, plant growth, proline and nitrate reductase activity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L). Biology and Medicine, 3(2), 196-206.
Gouia, H., Ghorbal, M. H., & Meyer, C. (2001). Effect of cadmium on activity of nitrat reductase and on other enzymes of the nitrate assimilation pathway in bean. Plant Physiology, 38, 629-638.
Gussarsson, M., Asp, H., Adalsteinsson, S., & Jensen, P. (1996). Enhancement of cadmium effects on growth and nutrient composition of bireh (Betula Pendula) by buthionine sulphoximine (BSO). Journal of Botany, 47, 211-215.
Hassan, M. J., Zhu, Z., Ahmad, B., & Mahmood, Q. (2006).  Influence of cadmium toxicity on rice genotypes as affected by zinc, sulfur and nitrogen fertilizers. Caspin Journal Environment Science, 4(1), 1-8.
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). (2011). International rules for seed testing. Bassersdorf, Switzerland: International Seed Testing Association.
Jaishankar, M., Tseten, T., Anbalagan, N., Mathew, B. B., & Beeregowda, K. N. (2014). Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscipnilary Toxicology, 7(2), 60-72.
Jiang, X. J., Luo, Y. M., Liu, Q., Liu, S. L., & Zhao, Q. G. (2004). Effects of cadmium on nutrient uptake and translocation by Indian mustard. Environment Geochemistry and Health, 26, 319-324.
Kabata-Pendias, A. (2001). Trace elements in soils and plants (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Kabir, M., Iqbal, M. Z., Shafigh, M., & Faroogi, Z. R. (2008). Reduction in germination and seedling growth of Thespesia populnea L. caused by lead and cadmium treatments. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 40, 2419–2426.
Koleli, N., Eker, S., & Cakmak, I. (2004). Effect of zinc fertilization on cadmium toxicity in durum and bread wheat grown in zinc-deficient soil. Environmental Pollution, 131, 453–459.
Moradi, A., Abbaspour, K. C., & Afyuni, M. (2005). Modelling field-scale cadmium transport below the root zone of a sewage sludge–amended soil in an arid region in Central Iran. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 79, 187–206.
Pakravan, M. (2008). Flora of Iran: Family Malvaceae. Tehran: Forest and Rangeland Research Institute, 58, 26–43. (in Persian)
Pál, M., Horváth, E., Janda, T., Páldi, E., & Szalai, G. (2006). Physiological changes and defense mechanisms induced by cadmium stress in maize. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 169, 239–246.
Popova, L. P., Maslenkova, L. T., Ivanova, A. P., & Stoinova, Z. (2012). Role of salicylic acid in alleviating heavy metal stress. In P. Ahmad & M. N. V. Prasad (Eds.), Environmental adaptations and stress tolerance of plants in the era of climate change (pp. 441–466). Springer.
Rabiei, B., & Bayat, M. (2009). A study of seed germination and seedling growth indices of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars through seed vigour tests. Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science, 40(2), 93-104. (in Persian)
Rai, V. S., Khatoon, S., Bisht, S., & Mehrotra, S. (2005). Effect of cadmium on growth, ultramorphology of leaf and secondary metabolites of Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacology Division, National Botanical Research Institute, 61(11), 1644–1650.
Rascio, N., & Navari-Izzo, F. (2011). Heavy metal hyperaccumulating plants: How and why do they do it, and what makes them so interesting? Plant Science, 180, 169–181.
Shah, F. R., Ahmad, N., Masood, K. R., & Zahid, D. M. (2008). The influence of cadmium and chromium on the biomass production of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) seedlings. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 40(4), 1341–1348.
Shenker, M., Fan, T. W. M., & Crowley, D. E. (2001). Phytosiderophores influence on cadmium mobilization and uptake by wheat and barley plants. Journal of Environment Quality, 30, 2091-2098.
Shokrollahi, S., & Heshmati, G. A. (2016). Different aspects of mallow (Malva sylvestris) and results of new research findings: a review. Journal of Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, 4(1), 1-8. (in Persian)
Soni, S., Jha, A. B., Dubey, R. S., & Sharma, P. (2024). Mitigating cadmium accumulation and toxicity in plants: The promising role of nanoparticles. Science of The Total Environment, 912, 168826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168826.
Ethnobiology and Biodiversity Conservation
Volume 2, Issue 3 - Serial Number 7
September 2025
Pages 15-25

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics