Growth of tomato seedlings under different HCO^‐₃ concentration in the medium

Abstract

An increase in the concentration of HCO^‐ ₃ ions in liquid media surrounding the root system significantly affected the biomass production of tomato seedlings in early stages of growth. This effect depended upon HCO^‐ ₃ concentration. The cultivation of seedlings during a period of 24 days (from 21–45 days after sowing) on a medium enriched to 5.68 mM HCO₃ (0.025% CO₂ after the computed dissociation) increased the production of dry matter (DW) plant"¹ to about 179% as compared with the respective control. Various tomato organs showed different values of DW increase, the greatest one being noted in leaf blades. This result was correlated with an increase in leaf blade area to about 176% in relation to the control. With an increase in the concentration to 22.72 mM HCO^‐ ₃ (0.1% CO₂ after the computed dissociation) a general tendency of changes was maintained, however, the absolute values of growth were diminished. In media of an enriched HCO₃ content the length of shoots, and roots, was not significantly modified. The values of other growth parameters computed for the respective three experimental series with HCO₃ concentration of 0.0, 5.68, and 22.72 mM, respectively, in the medium also showed correlations with the biomass production in tomato organs. The enrichment of liquid media with HCO₃ affected the processes of absorption, distribution, and accumulation of such elements as nitrogen, potassium, and calcium. No statistically significant differences in the content of phosphorus were obtained. The data presented here are the continuation of the study whose results were published in 1992 (J. Plant Nutr. 15: 293–312).

Notes

Agriculture University, Al. 29 Listopada 48, 31–425 Krak6w, Poland