The effects of some heavy metals on plant growth in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

The objective of this thesis was to investigate uptake, accumulation and their effects of some heavy metals (Ni, Cu and Co) on coriander which is one of medicinal and aromatic plants. Different doses of Ni, Cu and Co used in the study were applied to coriander plants grown in a controlled condition. In these plants, several morphological and physiological measurements and observations were taken. The plants at the control treatment had average 2.23 ppm Ni whereas Ni content in the plants increased up to 18.93 ppm with 160 ppm Ni treatment. Cu content in the control was 7.53 ppm while it was 25.39 ppm in the 200 ppm Cu treatment. Co content in the control was 0.07 ppm while it was found to be 11.62 ppm in the 250 ppm Co treatment. The highest heavy metal toxicity effect observed was determined from nickel. In the nickel treatment, the highest correlation was found between Co and Fe with 0.99 correlation coefficient, in the copper it was between Zn and K with 0.97, in cobalt it was between Al and Ga with 0.96. In other words, uptake of these elements was positively related each other. As a result, it was seen that the soils contaminated with heavy metals will be partly remedied with growing coriander plants at the doses which do not severely inhibit the plant growth. In addition, medicinal and aromatic plants are grown for their volatile oils, which is an advantage as volatile oils are not generally contaminated with heavy metals.