Influence of platinum ions on the germination and seedling root growth of different plant species

Abstract

For several decades an increase of platinum in the environment was recorded. This is connected with the release of platinum from automobile catalytic converters and pharmaceutical industries. In the conducted experiments the effect of various forms and concentrations of platinum on the germination and roots growth of different plants (oat, garden cress and tomato) was investigated. Two separate experiments were performed with lower (experiment 1$^{st}$: 1, 5 and 10 mg/L) and higher (experiment 2$^{nd}$: 10, 20 and 40 mg/L) $[Pt(NH_{3})_{4}](NO_{3})_{2}$ or $PtCl_{4}$ dosages. There was no significant effect of dose and form of platinum on the germination of seeds (experiment 1$^{st}$ and 2$^{nd}$). The effect of platinum containing substances dose on root growth of young seedlings was observed during experiment, dependent on the species of tested plants. The root length of oat plants was similar in all treatments in experiment 1$^{st}$. The shortest tomato roots were observed in the case of a 10 mg/L of $PtCl_{4}$, it was statistically shorter than the control plants (treated with water) as well. The roots of the tomato treated with $[Pt(NH_{3})_{4}](NO_{3})_{2}$ were the same length as observed for the control sample. The garden cress root growth was not affected by $[Pt(NH_{3})_{4}](NO_{3})_{2}$, but a solution containing $Pt^{4+}$ stimulated the root growth. The roots of tomato and oat treated with $[Pt(NH_{3})_{4}](NO_{3})_{2}$ had similar length as the control plants in contrast to the far shorter roots treated with $PtCl_{4}$ (experiment 2$^{nd}$). Moreover, the treatment with $[Pt(NH_{3})_{4}](NO_{3})_{2}$ stimulated the growth of garden cress roots compared to the control, while only the lowest dose of $PtCl_{4}$ stimulated the root growth.