Growth processes of Triticum durum Dest. on the formaldehyde concentration gradient in microcosmic models

Abstract

Under modern conditions, against the background of military invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, there is an increase in threats to ecological security of the state, including as a result of violation of technological regime of operation of numerous potentially dangerous objects. Particular attention should be paid to such impurities as suspended substances (aerosols, dust), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, the concentrations of which in the air have been rapidly increasing recently. Formaldehyde is one of the most well-known air pollutants, which is a permanent component of the atmosphere. The average content of formaldehyde in the air in the cities of Ukraine in the pre-war period exceeded the maximum permissible concentration. Its significant growth depends significantly on meteorological conditions. In comparison with other impurities, a clear seasonal dynamics is manifested with an increase in concentration in the summer period. The course of monthly concentrations of formaldehyde varies depending on the air temperature and the intensity of direct solar radiation on a horizontal surface. The article summarizes scientific data on specifics of formaldehyde effect on the growth processes of Triticum durum Dest. Phytotesting was carried out by forming microcultivators and planting calibrated seeds of Favorit wheat in them. The subject of the study was coleoptiles (model objects sensitive to the influence of exogenous factors, separated from three-day-old ethylated seedlings). Based on application of microcosm models method, it is shown inhibition of the growth of the aerial part of T. durum Dest. seedlings on the formaldehyde concentration gradient, which affects the growth rate of coleoptiles. It was established that the growth of coleoptiles decreases with increasing concentration. It is substantiated that the value of the effective concentration (EC50) is 0.875 MPC. Inhibition of T. durum Dest. seed germination at the formaldehyde concentration gradient under the influence of all studied concentrations was shown. The smallest percentage of germinated seeds (5.6%) was found at a concentration that corresponds to the maximum permissible one. The reaction of wheat seeds to the concentration of formaldehyde, corresponding to 0.1 MPC and 2 MPC, was almost the same (28.6% and 30.3%, respectively). The highest percentage of seed germination (82.2%) was observed under the influence of formaldehyde at a concentration of 0.5 MPC.