Specific effects of certain salts on the growth of roots of young corn seedlings

Abstract

The effect of different concentrations of NaCl, Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, MgCl<sub>2</sub> and MgSO<sub>4</sub> on the growth in length of the first seminal root of corn, and on the change in dry weight of the whole seedling and its separate parts have been studied. The effect of mannitol was also investigated for comparison and to study the osmotic effect. The effect of salts on root growth was dependent on the salt species; all effects were specific for the ions investigated, not due to osmotic activity of the solution. The growth of corn roots was suppressed by concentrations of salts much lower than those required to suppress germination. All solutions tested from 1 to 20 meq/l inhibited growth of the root; the retardation increased with increase of concentration. The effect of salts on growth of corn roots was due to both cations and anions and the effect of sodium was stronger than that of magnesium and chloride was more effects than sulphate.