Influence of Lead on In vitro Seed Germination and Early Radicle Development of Acacia auriculiformis Cunn. Ex Benth Species

Aims: To determine the impact of Pb on seed germination and early seedling development in A. auriculiformis species. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Department of Biology, University Putra Malaysia, between April 2016 and February 2017. Methodology: The concentrations of lead from 0 to 4 g/L (interval of 0.5 g/L) were used. Seeds were germinated in vitro condition. Different parameters were measured including germination percentage, seedling vigour index, tolerance index, germination index, mean germination time and relative injury rate. Results: The noticeable finding of this study reveals that A. auriculiformis seeds have the ability to germination and resist Pb toxicity up to 1.5 g/L. Increasing Pb concentration from 1.5 to 3.5 g/L decreased the germination percentage from 57% to 4% respectively. Conclusion: Acacia auriculiformis seeds germination in a high level of Pb (up to 1.5 g/L) indicated species resistance which probably can be used as Pb hyperaccumulator agent in areas or sites contaminated with this metal.