THE EFFECT OF SOME NATURAL BIOLOGICALLY-A CTIVE PREPARATIONS ON WINTER-WHEAT YIELD FORMATION AND ACTIVITY OF GLUTAMATE KINASE

In investigating the effect of pressed spinach juice and alginate prep aration manufactured by BIO-ALGEEN (Hamburg, Germany), formulated from algae Ascophyllum nodosum, on the yield and yield components of winte r wheat and activity of glutamate kinase [E.C.2.7.2.11] in their leave s, a positive action of both natural preparations was found. Trials we re carried out on the school plot in three replications. The seed was activated by spinach extract prepared from frozen spinach by manual pr essing; 400 mi of diluted pressed juice was applied for 2.3 kg seed. S tands were sprayed with alginate preparation at the stage of five righ t leaves at a rate of 1.35 g alginate diluted in 1 1 water per one exp erimental plot what corresponds to spraying of a rate 3 l.ha(-1) Plant material (leaves) for investigation of the activity of glutamate kina se was taken at the stage of five right leaves what corresponded to se ven days after spraying by alginate preparation. In evaluation of yiel d and yield components the length of spike, grain number per spike, 1 000-kernel weight, number of plants per 1 m2 and yield. As alginate, a s its combination with spinach juice increased grain number in spike o n average by 5 (11.3%). 1 000-kernel weight (TKW), too, was higher by 1.43 in alginate (10.31%), in using both preparations by 1.51 g (10.33 %). The highest increase in TKW value was attained in activation of th e seed by spinach juice (by 2.8 g, i.e. by 19.2%). Average length of s pike increased only as a result of alginate or combination of both pre parations, that is by 1 cm. Marked increase in the yield was manifeste d only in combination of both substances, the yield was higher by 11.5 2% compared with the control (Tab. II). Activity of glutamate kinase w as determined by the methodology which consisted in isolation of aceto ne powder from plant material and its extraction by buffer with subseq uent centrifugation. A fraction, containing tested enzyme, was achieve d from supernatant after salting out of (NH4)(2)SO4 and subsequent pur ification. Its activity was determined by hydraxamate method after Y o s h i n a g a et al. (1975). While application of spinach juice incre ased activity of enzyme by 11.25%, action of alginate was more marked (increase by 67.5%), synergic effect of parallel action of both prepar ations was not shown (increase by 65%) as can be seen in Pig. 1. Both preparations used have positive - stimulating effect on winter wheat.