Responses of bush bean and barley to tin applied to soil and to solution culture

Abstract

The present series of studies was made to assess the potential toxicity of Sn to plants. Tin as SnCl2 was applied to bush bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Improved Tendergreen) grown in Yolo loam (pH 6) and Hacienda loam (calcareous) soils at rates of up to 500 ppm of dry weight of soil. Yields were slightly decreased at the highest application rate. Tin concentrations in leaves and stems as determined by emission spectrography were around 1 ppm with leaves greater than stems. In the noncalcareous soil, a high level of Sn resulted in decreased Fe concentrations in leaves. In soil acidified with S, 500 ppm Sn applied as SnCl2 was extremely toxic to barley plants with most of the effect due to Sn. Again, very little Sn was transported to shoots. Tin increased Zn and Mn levels in the shoots. Bush beans were grown in solution culture with 0, 10−6, 10−5, 10−4, and 10−3M levels of SnCl2 with and without CaCO3. Without CaCO3 the 10−3M Sn was very toxic. Leaf and stem levels of Sn were increased only slightly by the Sn applications, however; most of the accumulated Sn remained in roots.