The effects of L-glutamate, mono-potassium salt on whole live spinach plants.

Abstract

Spinach plants were grown under greenhouse conditions in hopes of determining the affects of L-glutamate, mono-potassium salt solution on whole living plants. Both the leaves and the roots were treated with the solution in this experiment. In all of the previous research only leaf discs were used under laboratory conditions. The results of the previous research revealed a significant increase in cell numbers produced when treated with the solution. In the present study, the growth conditions of whole live plants varied greatly from the previous research, even though the concentration of the solution and the amount of time in the solution were the same for both studies. The results of this study differed greatly from all other studies. The solution was actually detrimental to the spinach plants whose root systems were bathed in the solution. They all died before the end of the forty day-treatment period. Five measurements were taken, and two of those measurements revealed a reduction in size when compared to the control plants. The plants treated with a solution sprayed on the leaves exhibited fewer leaves per plant and a reduced fresh weight. The sprayed plants did exhibit larger leaves and a greater dry weight.