Résumé:
The research presented in this paper aims to study the toxicity of heavy metals (copper, zinc) to the grass Triticum aestivum L.
Toxicity assessment parameters and some biochemical analyses were used to determine the effects of these elements on the physiology of soft wheat.
The application of copper and zinc during the germination phase revealed the following points: the two elements did not affect germination kinetics or the final percentage; however, germination was delayed under the effect of high doses of copper; comparable concentrations of zinc had no effect.
Young seedlings treated with zinc had a higher vigor index of 10.45.
Under zinc treatment, the D3 dose of 0.01 g/L stimulated seedling length (11.01 cm). Furthermore, copper inhibits seedling growth; results show a decrease in seedling length for the treatments used.
Significant reductions in growth, chlorophyll content, total sugar levels, and protein were recorded at high concentrations of zinc and copper. This toxicity results in a decrease in plant length at concentrations of 0.005 and 0.01 g/l. Root elongation is very sensitive to increased copper levels and decreases at high doses.
At the phytomass level, although for fresh matter and dry matter production, root responses are similar under zinc and copper treatments; at doses of D2 and D3 (0.005 and 0.01 g/l), there is a significant decrease in these levels.
Therefore, due to the effect of zinc and copper on growth and their high reactivity, these heavy metals negatively affect the development of soft wheat.
