CHANGES IN NITRATE REDUCTASE-ACTIVITY, PLASTID PIGMENT CONTENT, AND PLANT MINERAL-COMPOSITION OF WHEAT, RYE, AND TRITICALE GROWN IN THE PRESENCE OF ALUMINUM

The effects of aluminum (Al) on nitrate reductase activity, plastid pi gment content, and mineral element composition in wheat, rye, and trit icale seedlings were studied. Different responses of the plant species to Al content in the growth solution were observed. Under conditions of different Al concentrations (from 1 to 10 ppm), nitrate reductase ( NR) activity increased in wheat and triticale, while in rye an interfe rence with nitrate reductase by Al was observed. A definite tendency i n plastid pigment content changes independent on Al levels was not fou nd. The chlorophyll ''a'', chlorophyll ''b'', and carotenoid contents were influenced in a different way in wheat, rye, and triticale seedli ngs. A positive effect of 1, 5, and 10 ppm Al on the nitrogen (N) cont ent in the shoots of wheat and rye was observed. The N content in the shoots of triticale was not affected by the presence of Al. The presen ce of Al in the nutrient solution led to a tendency toward reduction o f potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) contents in the shoo ts of rye seedlings, a reduction of K in the shoots and manganese (Mn) content in roots of wheat, and a reduction of K in both shoots and ro ots and an accumulation of Mn in triticale roots. In general, our inve stigation on the effect of Al in the early stages of wheat, rye, and t riticale development showed that a large number of biochemical and phy siological parameters are required to characterize the plant responses to Al stress.