Ability of Garlic (Allium Sativum L.) to Accumulate Germanium under Natural and Experimental Conditions

Abstract

Objective: The ability of garlic to accumulate germanium under natural and experimental conditions was discussed. Methods: The efficiency of accumulation of germanium in the garlic bulbs was dependent on the plant dressing method. Non-root (foliar) dressing proved to be 5 times more effective than root dressing; it afforded an increase in the germanium concentration within the garlic bulb tissues to 20.0 μg/kg. More effective was non-root dressing using Germatranol solution added with dimethyl sulfoxide, facilitating penetration of germanium into the plant tissues. Results and Discussion: The content of germanium in the bulbs of 24 samples of winter garlic varieties (19 samples) and spring garlic varieties (5 samples), grown in the lowland conditions of the Voronezh, Moscow, and Tver oblasts, as well as in the mountain conditions of the Shandong province (PRC), Karachay-Cherkessia, and Altai Mountains, was found to be at a low level. The germanium content in the bulbs did not exceed 4.2 μg/kg in 23 samples; in the sample grown in the conditions of Karachay-Cherkessia the content of this element was 5.0 μg/kg. Conclusions: It was shown that the efficiency of germanium accumulation in the garlic bulbs depends on the method of application of the germanium-containing substance. It was found that garlic roots and leaves accumulated germanium most actively; the respective germanium concentrations in these organs were 115.2 and 141.0 times higher than in the control. In the garlic cloves, the concentration of this element exceeded that in the control by 37.1 times, being 78 μg/kg.