Abstract
The common belief that the sensitivity of plants to Ge is evidence for a Si requirement has been examined experimentally using barely, wheat, cucumber and radish cultivars. All 4 test plants were inhibited by Na2GeO3 (metagermanate) at 1 mM or less, including germination, shoot height, root length, and first leaf growth in barley and wheat. The application of Na2SiO3 (metasilicate) counteracted Ge-inhibition only in barley. Further, only barley growth was stimulated by the application of Na2SiO3. Necrotic lesions were characteristic of Ge-toxicity only in barley leaves, and were reduced when Na2SiO3 was supplied.
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Puerner, N.J., Siegel, S.M. & Siegel, B.Z. The experimental phytotoxicology of germanium in relation to silicon. Water Air Soil Pollut 49, 187–195 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00279520
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00279520