Heavy metals of biosphere rise since the beginning industrial revolution and the toxicity of heavy metals cause to impair in the process of germination and growth of plants. Medicinal plants are a large group of economically important plants. Chicory is a perennial plant that has been used frequently among people of different countries. In this study the effects of the different concentration of Pb (NO3)2 (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg l-1) and different concentration of Ni(NO3)2 (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg l-1)on germination of chicory were investigated in the independent experiments according to a completely randomized design with forth replication. The results of ANOVA in two experiments indicated a significant difference between different treatments at a level of 5% for most traits. The result indicated that with the increase in concentrations of Pb, radicle and plumule length, radicle and plumule dry and fresh weight, and vigor index showed a downward trend. Increasing the concentration of Ni(NO3)2 impairs the growth of radicle and plumule length, radicle and plumule dry and fresh weight, vigor index of chicory. In general, the results of this study showed that Ni and Pb may allow plants to germinate, but with increasing in their concentration, the germination indices in some seed of chicory were impaired.
