Action of nitric oxide in sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum L.) submitted to stress by cadmium

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) as a protecting agent of sesame seeds submitted to different concentrations of cadmium. The treatments were: water (control), water increased by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and other treatments regarding the concentrations of cadmium increased by SNP. The following determinations were done: germination, first count of germination, germination speed index, length of hypocotyl and radicle and dry matter of hypocotyl and radicle, besides quantification of enzyme activities, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and total peroxidases. The statistical design was entirely randomized with five replicates. The data was submitted to a variance analysis and the averages obtained for the treatments were compared by the Tukey test at 5% significance. The averages obtained in the treatments with and without SNP were compared by the F test at 5% probability. The NO due to the application of SNP was beneficial, providing an increase in germination, vigor and growth of seedlings. There was a progressive increase of the antioxidant enzymes activity in the period of 0 to 24 hours, showing an organization of the antioxidant system in the sesame seeds throughout germination time.