Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.18047/poljo.32.1.5

Evaluation of Phytotoxicity of Organic Acids by Germination Test

Zdenko Lončarić ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia *
Lucija Galić ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Iva Nikolin ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Franjo Nemet ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Katarina Perić ; Agricultural Institute Osijek, Južno predgrađe 17, 31000, Osijek, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Phytotoxicity, regardless of the cause, can significantly reduce plant growth and development from seed germination onwards. Therefore, the germination test is the most widely used laboratory method for determining phytotoxicity, and garden cress and cucumber are most commonly used as test plants. The aim of this study was to determine the phytotoxic and/or phytostimulatory effect of different concentrations of acetic (AA), lactic (LA), butyric (BA) and citric (CA) acids. In the germination test, garden cress and cucumber seeds were exposed to different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 mM) of the above organic acids in order to determine and compare the concentrations with phytotoxic effect. The results show that garden cress is more suitable for determining the effect on germination and high phytotoxicity, and cucumber for determining moderate phytotoxicity. All tested acids had a phytotoxic effect at certain concentrations. The least toxic was LA, slightly more toxic were CA and AA, and BA was the most toxic, especially for garden cress. The most stimulating effects on garden cress were at lower or medium concentrations, but the stimulating effect on cucumber was almost completely absent. Simultaneous testing by germination test with garden cress and cucumber is a justified combination due to their different reactions to organic acids, and such a germination test is recommended for testing the phytotoxicity of all composts and substrates, especially immature ones.

Keywords

germination test; phytotoxicity; germination index; acetic acid; butyric acid; citric acid; lactic acid

Hrčak ID:

348729

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/348729

Publication date:

30.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 0 *