Influence of deuterium-oxide on germination
Water is an important component of protoplasm. When relatively inactive tissues and cells, such as seeds and spores, become active the acceleration of physiological processes is preceded or accompanied by the absorption of water. The water normally found in living cells contains hydrogen of atomic weight 1.0078. Deuterium, the heavy isotope of hydrogen of atomic weight 2.0156, is present in ordinary water in the amount of 1 part in 5,000 of the total hydrogen present. The influence of water containing various concentrations of deuterium on biological processes has been of considerable interest (Barnes and Jahn; Meyer; von Hevesy; Pratt). Results of investigations on the biological effects of heavy water have sometimes been conflicting, at least in part, because of the limitations imposed by inadequate supplies of deuterium oxide. The greater availability of deuterium oxide of high concentration at the present time makes possible a reexamination of the growth effects of that compound. The investigation reported here involves a study of the influence of water containing the heavy isotope of hydrogen on seed and spore germination.
- Research Organization:
- Tennessee Univ., Knoxville, TN (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 128117
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-295335/4/XAB; TRN: 53030287
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jul 1950
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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