The seeds were sterilized with 5% sodium hypochlorite to
eliminate pest contamination, washed and soaked with distilled
water, and germinated in a greenhouse at 25 C and 70% relative
humidity in pots with soil. The seedlings were selected for uniformity
when the first trifoliate leaf had completely spread out. The
seedlings were carefully removed from the soil and their roots and
stems were washed with distilled water. The plants were transferred
to one-fifth strength Hoagland solution, which contained
macronutrients of 1.0 mM KNO3, 1.0 mM Ca (NO3)2, 0.4 mM MgSO4
and 0.2 mM (NH4) H2PO4 and micronutrients of 20 mM NaFeEDTA,
3.0 mM H3BO3, 0.5 mM MnCl2, 0.2 mM CuSO4, 0.4 mM ZnSO4 and
1.0 mM (NH4)6Mo7O24