Abstract:

This study, which does not aim to research the possible modulating role of exogenous lipoic acid supplementation on the inorganic composition of the root, coleoptile and endosperm of germinated maize, is the first one in the literature. Maize seeds were germinated with lipoic acid at concentrations of 10, 15, 25 and 30 μmol L-1 for 4 days as defined in the material method section for the study. Macro elements (magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca)), the concentrations of essential and nonessential micro elements (boron (B), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper(Cu), zinc (Zn), beryllium (Be), aluminum (Al), selenium (Se) and molybdenum (Mo)) were analyzed using ICP-MS technique in root, coleoptile and endosperm of maize plant. When roots and coleoptiles treated with all lipoic acid applications compared with control groups, an important decrease was determined in endosperms (except for Mn) while a significant increase was recorded in Mg, P, K, Ca, B, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Se, Mo and Al contents (except for A1 in coleoptile groups). When taking account of the maximum changes in the concentrations of the analyzed elements, the best results were obtained in the application of 25 μmol L-1 lipoic acid. It can be said that the application of lipoic acid significantly affects the inorganic composition of the plant by increasing the inorganic element contents in maize through its transport from the endosperms to the roots and coleoptiles when all the results are considered together.

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