MEASURING MAXIMUM ROOT-GROWTH INSTEAD OF LONGEST ROOT ELONGATION IN METAL TOLERANCE-TESTS FOR GRASSES (AGROSTIS-CAPILLARIS, AGROSTIS-DELICATULA AND AGROSTIS-CASTELLANA)

Longest root elongation diminished significantly in the three species tested from 6 mm d-1 to 3 mm d-1 in 3 weeks. During this period S.D. increased considerably (from 49% to 112%, A. castellana), and accounted on the average for 68% (A. capillaris) till 94% (A. castellana) of the mean. Maximum root growth stabilized at 6 mm d-1 and showed less variation in the measurements (S.D. 52% of the mean). Growth of the originally longest root approaches zero in all three species, in accordance with the natural cease of growth of roots in grasses fascicular root system. Measuring maximum root growth instead of longest root elongation is proposed for testing metal tolerance of grasses in sequential experiments.