## 1 Introduction  
Fluoride (F) is commonly found in the environment, and its total content in the Earth's crust is estimated at a level of 0.077% [1]. This element is a non-metal from the group of halogens characterized by the highest electronegativity, which makes it one of the most reactive elements, meaning it practically does not exist in nature in a free form [2]. Natural sources of fluoride are mainly volcanic eruptions and minerals such as apatite Ca\({}_{5}\)(PO\({}_{4}\))\({}_{3}\)F. cryolite Na\({}_{3}\)AlF\({}_{6}\), fluorite CaF\({}_{2}\), and topaz Al\({}_{2}\)(SiO\({}_{4}\))F\({}_{2}\), which lead to accumulations of fluoride in soil as a result of their weathering and leaching [3,4]. High fluoride content is reported in most of the waters in the Middle East, East and Central Asia, and Africa (above 1.5 mg\(\cdot\)dm\({}^{-3}\), also expressed as mg/L), which is the result of leaching from fluorine-rich minerals. Hence, this amount of F in water from high fluoride content area is reported over 10 mg F-dm\({}^{-3}\) to even 2800 mg\(\cdot\)dm\({}^{-3}\). In soil from the high F polluted regions the concentration is usually higher than 300 mg F/kg of soil dry mass [5,6]. Fluoride is often mentioned as one of the pollutants among compounds that create pollution in the environment, as it is ranked fifth in the hierarchy of environmental poisons [7]. The problem of environmental pollution with fluoride compounds has been noticed relatively recently and is mainly related to industrial activity, production of artificial fertilizers (superphosphates), and the emission of fluoride compounds into the atmosphere in the form of dust and gas from aluminum smelters [8]. Currently, about 25% of herbicides contain at least one fluoride atom, or fluoride in the form of diluoromethyl and trifluoromethyl groups, which has significantly contributed to the development of agrochemical industry products [9]. The introduction of fluoride into organic molecules increases the lipophilic properties of herbicides, the rate of penetration of plant cells, and the blocking of active enzyme sites. This phenomenon is used to enhance the fungicidal properties of herbicides [10]. This element is one of the most toxic elements for plants and, so far, it has not been reported to have a positive effect on these organisms. Fluoride reduces agricultural harvests by up to 50 percent because most plants are highly sensitive to fluoride. F\({}^{-}\) compounds have been shown to be highly toxic to cereals and, in particular, wheat [11; 12]. Wheat (_Trictium aestivum_ L) is the world's second-most important crop after rice, with a harvest of about 761.5 million tons during 2019 [13]. Wheat produces a high yield and is one of the most important food crops for the majority of the world's population. Wheat is also a good source of protein, fiber, carbohydrates, minerals, and B-group vitamins [14]. However, for the first time ever in 2018, the total wheat yield did not deliver the previously predicted increase, and global wheat production is estimated to fall by 6 percent, mainly due to climate issues [15]. Germination is one of the most important criteria for crop seed quality assessment [16]. This process is the initiation of the first developmental phase in the life cycle of plants and is followed by the growth of the seedling [17]. Biochemical analysis is widely used for monitoring seeds during germination, but it is often focused on the final phase of germination (the start of seedling growth), and that is paid the most attention. However, the initial phase of germination, imbibition, also exhibits interesting behavior [18]. The imbibition phase is divided into three defined parts [19]. The first one (imbibition) lasts approximately one hour and consists mainly of the swelling of the embryo part of the seed. The second one, also known as main imbibition, consists of spatial expansion caused by water adsorption in the other parts of the seed.