Efflux of Inorganic Ions in Leachates of Wheat Seeds

Changes in Na, K and inorganic phosphate (Pi) have been quantified in the leachates during early hours of imbibition of untreated and 2, 6, 16 and 24 hours of water pre-treated wheat seeds at 16±1C. During the course of 24 hours imbibition of untreated seeds, Na effluxed #1.2 ppm/seed. K concentration at zero hour observed was 2.27 ppm/seed which increased to 7.2±0.9 ppm/seed in leachates of 24 hours of imbibition of control seeds. Rate of K leakage from the seed was faster (4.54 ppm/seed/hour) during the initial 30 minutes which decreased to 0.3 ppm/seed/hour at 24 hours of imbibition. Pi leakage remained upto 8.1±1.2 ppm/seed during 24 hours of imbibition in control seeds. When seeds were pretreated in water for 2, 6, 16 and 24 hours, air-dried for a week to their original weights and allowed to re-imbibe for 1-3 days, decrease in ionic concentrations were noticed in their leachates with increase in duration to pre-treatment and least ionic concentrations were noticed in leachates of 24 hour pre-treated seeds. The significance of these changes during early hours of imbibition is discussed.