METHOD OF AUTOMATIC EVALUATION OF PLANTS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR RESISTANCE TO STRESS FACTORS BY THE GROWTH RATE

The gist of the proposed method is that while plants are grown on supporters floating in a nutrient solution the time taken by the plant to reach given biomass is measured automatically by the supporter submersion into the solution (s. Figures). Electric part of the installation intended for 12 supporters with plants consists of a group of double contacts, a power supply, a divider of voltage and a 12-channel self-registering device.

Before experiments all supporters are matched for their weight. After this operation a definite number of sprouted seeds are laid on every net. Buoyant force of floating supporters is calculated from the crops used at what age plants biomass will be evaluated.

7-days seedlings of spring wheat and 10-days seedlings of tomato are used in our study. Irradiance was about 100 W/m² PhAR. Air temperature was 22/15 °C (wheat) and 25/22 °C (tomato). Knop solution was used. The period of influence of stress factors (model drought, heat, complex heat and drought conditions and cold) was 3 days. The heat is made using air temperature conditions about 37–38 °C during 6 hours per day.

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