Effects of Rare Earth Elements on Vigor Enhancement of Aged Spinach Seeds

摘要

The effect and the mechanism of action of lanthanum, cerium and neodymium on aged seeds of spinach were studied. By LaCl_3, CeCl_3, and NdCl_3 treatment, the germination rate, germination index and vigor index of aged spinach seeds are increased and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase are enhanced. Moreover the centre dot O_2~- and malondialdehyde content are decreased and the cell membrane permeability of aged spinach seeds is reduced. Among these three rare earth elements, Ce treatment enhances vigor of aged seeds most significantly, that of Nd treatment secondly and La treatment is not as effective as the other two treatments. The reason may be from 4f electron characteristic and alternation valence of REEs.