ANALYSIS OF SEED VIABILITY FROM TWO ALYSSUM SPECIES, CANDIDATES FOR PHYTOMINING IN THE BALKANS
DONALTINA VILA1, KALINA VILA1, DOLJA PAVLOVA2*, AIDA BANI1
1-Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania
2-University of Sofia, Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany, Sofia, Bulgaria
* Corresponding author: pavlova@biofac.uni-sofia.bg
Keywords: Ni hyperaccumulators, seeds, serpentines, tetrazolium test, viability
Abstract: Two populations of the serpentine endemic and obligate Ni hyperaccumulator species Alyssum markgrafii and two populations of the facultative Ni hyperaccumulator A. murale were studied. To maximise the yields of the selected ‘metal crop’, suitable experiments on seed viability pattern are of importance. The aims of this study were to estimate the relation between the viability of the seeds of metallophyte Alyssum species - A. markgrafii and A. murale with their seed germinability. Tetrazolium (TZ) test for seed viability as an alternative quick method for seed’s germinability testing was used. A positive tetrazolium result was concluded if seeds are stained in light pink as well as red. The germinability of both Alyssum species and their populations was significantly low. In general, A. murale demonstrated higher germinability compared to A. markgrafii. The results of the test showed that potential viability of the seeds was higher than germination percentage. The variation between viability and germination for the studied species is probably a result of seed dormancy. The variation in seed germination between the populations found for both Alyssum species could also be a result of an adaptive trait of plants to harsh environment provided by the serpentine soils.