Abstract
BackgroundThere is little information on the effect of nutrient solutions composition on Arabidopsis growth. Therefore, we compared growth performance of Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) grown on the most commonly used nutrient solutions in deep water culture: Hoagland and Arnon, Murashige and Skoog, Tocquin, Hermans, and Conn. In addition to these nutrient solution composition experiments, we established Arabidopsis growth response curves for nutrient solution concentration and salt stress (NaCl).ResultsArabidopsis rosette fresh and dry weight showed an approximate linear decline with NaCl dose in deep water culture, i.e. 9% reduction relative to control per unit of electrical conductivity (EC in dS m−1, for scale comprehension 1 dS m−1 equals ~ 10 mM NaCl). The Tocquin, ½Hoagland and Conn nutrient solutions had equal and optimal growth performance. Optimal nutrient solution concentration for Tocquin and Hoagland was 0.8 to 0.9 dS m−1. Close to the EC of ½Hoagland (1.1 dS m−1), which is frequently used in Arabidopsis research. Conn solution showed optimal growth at much higher EC (2 dS m−1) indicating that it is a balanced nutrient solution that matches the needs of Arabidopsis. Full Murashige and Skoog solution (5.9 dS m−1) was lethal and diluted solutions (EC of 1.6 and 1.1 dS m−1) caused stress symptoms and severe growth retardation at later developmental stages.ConclusionsArabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) plants grown in deep water culture showed a sixfold growth difference when commonly used nutrient solutions were compared. Murashige and Skoog solution should not be used as nutrient solution in deep water culture. Conn, Tocquin and ½Hoagland are balanced nutrient solutions which result in optimal Arabidopsis growth in hydroponic systems.
Highlights
There is little information on the effect of nutrient solutions composition on Arabidopsis growth
Effects of nutrient solution composition The five most commonly used nutrient solutions for Arabidopsis showed a sixfold difference in plant growth (Exp. 1, Fig. 1 and Table 1)
The significantly lower yield became evident at 32 days after sowing (DAS) and onwards (Fig. 2 and Additional file 4)
Summary
There is little information on the effect of nutrient solutions composition on Arabidopsis growth. We compared growth performance of Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0) grown on the most commonly used nutrient solutions in deep water culture: Hoagland and Arnon, Murashige and Skoog, Tocquin, Hermans, and Conn. In addition to these nutrient solution composition experiments, we established Arabidopsis growth response curves for nutrient solution concentration and salt stress (NaCl). The nutrient solution tested by Arteca and Arteca [9] was developed by Somerville and Ogren [21] (Somerville solution on) and has hardly been used in Arabidopsis research, likely because Arteca and Arteca [9] reported lethal effects when EC exceeded 1.7 dS m−1 (Additional file 1 for the entire EC response). It would be interesting to do a full factorial study by growing Arabidopsis on relatively high phosphate level (2.5 mmol L −1) versus optimal (0.6 mmol L −1) in combination with either high (1.7 dS m −1) or optimal (0.7 dS m−1) EC
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