Effect of zinc salt solutions on the development of chlorophyll and formation of seeds of maize hybrids Cover Image

Вплив розчинів солей цинку на утворення хлорофілу та закладання насіння у гібридів кукурудзи
Effect of zinc salt solutions on the development of chlorophyll and formation of seeds of maize hybrids

Author(s): M. D. Tafij, V. І. Nikolaichuk, V. J. Belchhazi
Subject(s): Human Ecology, Sociobiology
Published by: Дніпропетровський національний університет імені Олеся Гончара
Keywords: Zea mays; zinc nitrate; stimulation of growth; pigments; productivity;

Summary/Abstract: Zinc as an element is considered as one of the most limiting nutrients for crop production, mainly for cereals in the arid areas of the world. The article explores the impact of zinc salts at different concentrations on the course of physiological biochemical processes, germination and development of nine investigated hybrids of maize. In particular, we investigate how zinc nitrate solutions influence physiological biochemical processes of different maize hybrids. It is established that high concentration of zinc salt solution can arrest or inhibit processes of plants growth, exerting an effect typical of heavy metals. The influence of 0.01% and 0.02% of zinc nitrate aqueous solution on the content of chlorophyll and number of seeds on the stalks of different corn hybrids was studied. The results of experiments in which germinating seeds were placed in Petri dishes containing 0.01% and 0.02% nitrate zinc solutions showed that zinc in these quantities stimulates the synthesis of chlorophyll in the leaves in all studied hybrids, thereby stimulating plant growth. Thereafter, low concentrations of salt solutions of the same element stimulated all development processes. Zinc enters the active enzyme centers and participates directly in chlorophyll synthesis. The spray of solutions as foliar fertilizers at critical stages of corn growth increases the number of seeds, the diameter and length of stalk in the early ripening hybrids group, compared with the control. It was shown that lack of zinc affects the formation of seeds. The results of the field experiments showed that corn foliar feeding with 0.01% sodium nitrate increased productivity of the studied hybrids. Symptoms of zinc deficiency develop throughout the whole plant or are localized on the old lower leaves. At first, brownish grey and purple-coloured spots appear on the leaves of the lower and middle layers and then spread over the rest of the plant. The tissue of the areas like these simply dies off. Zinc deficiency had a negative effect on seeds production. From the results of experiments it follows that there are fluctuation of chlorophyll in maize hybrids when germinated in 0.01% and 0.02% salts solutions of zinc nitrate, and that the resistance of the plants to fungus and bacterial infections is strengthened when their seeds are previously treated with nitric acid zinc at 0.01% concentration.

  • Issue Year: 24/2016
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 302-307
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: Ukrainian