EFFECT OF ZIRCONIUM TREATMENT ON WHEAT SEEDLINGS DEVELOPMENT, AMINO ACID COMPOSITION, AND BORON CONTENT

Abstract

The effects of zirconium ascorbate (Zr-ASC) were examined on wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L. cv. ‘MV. 20’). Plants grown hydroponically for nine days were exposed to solutions having various concentrations of Zr-ASC. The investigated plants were able to take up the Zr-ASC complex, accumulation and translocation of the metal has also been observed. Translocation mechanisms seem to be working efficiently to a certain concentration limit where from the translocation between root and shoot is limited. An interesting phenomenon was noticed in the case of boron, namely that the concentration change tendencies of boron and Zr were similar. A significant change was observed in the case of amino acid content, the total amino acid content increase was pronounced both in roots and shoots.

Keywords:

• environmental pollution
• zirconium ascorbate
• boron content
• amino acid content
• wheat seedlings

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This manuscript is in memoriam Professor Istvan Pais. Thanks to Ágnes Woller for her help in translating this article.