Combined effects of cadmium and fluoranthene on germination, growth and photosynthesis of soybean seedlings

The single and combinational effects of cadmium (Cd) and fluoranthene (FLT) on germination, growth and photosynthesis of soybean seedlings were investigated. Exposure to 5, 10, or 15 mg Cd/L or 1, 5, or 10 mg FLT/L individually or in combination significantly decreased germination vigor (3 days) and final germination rate of soybean seeds, except at 1 and 5 mg FLT/L. The results of two-way ANOVA analysis and the Bliss independence model showed that at lower concentrations of FLT (1 mg/L), the interaction between Cd and FLT on germination was antagonistic, whereas the interaction was synergistic when the concentration of FLT was 5 or 10 mg/L and the concentration of Cd was 15 mg/L. Growth, expressed as dry weight, length of shoot and root, leaf area, and photosynthesis, expressed as net photosynthetic rate, intercellular CO2 concentration, chlorophyll contents and fluorescence of soybean seedlings were also reduced by exposure to 5 or 10 mg Cd/L or 1 or 5 mg FLT/L, singly or jointly. Significant antagonistic effects of exposure to 5 or 10 mg Cd/L or 1 or 5 mg FLT/L on shoot growth and photosynthesis were observed, whereas synergy and antagonism of Cd and FLT were both observed for root growth.