2010
Volume 10, Number 3, p.p. 102–107
Influence of artificial acid precipitation on photosynthesis, total activity of growth regulators and starch content in the seeds of some endemic species of Georgian wheat
Luara Rapava, Gulnara Badridze,* Shota Chanishvili, Medea Kikvidze and Tinatin Barblishvili
Tbilisi Botanical Garden and Institute of Botany, Botanikuri 1, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
The influence of spraying leaves with pH 1.5 solutions of acids (H2SO4:HNO3, 2:1) on the ear and stem lengths and grain weight, and the effect on photosynthesis and starch content in the seeds of endemic species of Georgian wheat, namely Dika (T. persicum Zhuk.) (three varieties: var. stramineum, var. rubiginosum and var. fuliginosum) and Zanduri (T. timopheevi Zhuk.), have been investigated. Total activity of growth regulators and soluble carbohydrate content in the leaves was also quantified. Acid spraying caused activation of photosynthesis in all varieties of Dika. The ear and stem lengths and soluble carbohydrate content increased in all experimental plants. In varieties of Dika the initial weight of grains increased. In the seeds of all investigated plants the starch content diminished. It is concluded that these species of wheat, especially Dika, may be considered as resistant to acid precipitations and recommended for cultivation in an acid-polluted environment, or as a selectable material for resistant form creation.
Keywords: acid precipitation, Georgian wheat, growth regulators, photosynthesis, productivity, soluble carbohydrates