Effect of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) treatment with brassinosteroids on the content of cadmium and lead in plant aerial biomass and grain
Spring wheat var. Vánek was cultivated in pots in a soil naturally contaminated with heavy metals. Experimental
plants were treated with three different types of brassinosteroids (BRs; 24-epibrassinolide, 24-epicastasterone and
4154) during two different growth stages 29–31 DC (off shooting) and 59–60 DC (beginning of anthesis). Content
of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn) was determined using AAS method in the plant growth stages 47–49 DC
(visible awns), 73–75 DC (30–50% of final grain size) and 90–92 DC (full ripeness). At the stages 47–49 DC and
73–75 DC, the content of the heavy metals was determined in the biomass of whole plants, while at the stage
90–92 DC it was determined separately in straw and grains. After the treatment of plants with BRs a decrease in
heavy metals content was observed in the growth stage 73–75 DC (i.e. during the period when the plants are harvested
for ensilage purposes. Likewise, a decrease of lead content in the grains by 70–74% in the plants treated
at both stages 29–31 DC and 59–60 DC and by 48–70% in the plants of the third group (plants treated at stage
59–60 DC) was determined as compared with the untreated plants