Effects of Progesterone, β-Estradiol, and Androsterone on the Changes of Inorganic Element Content in Barley Leaves

The present study was performed to determine the changes in inorganic element content in barley leaves of mammalian sex hormones (MSH). Barley leaves were sprayed with 10(-4), 10(-6), 10(-9), 10(-12), 10(-15) M concentrations of progesterone, beta-estradiol, and androsterone at 7th day after sowing. The plants were harvested at the end of 18 days after treatment with MSH solutions. The inorganic element concentrations were determined using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy technique. Although the all MSH concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) increased the concentrations of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, copper, manganese, aluminum, zinc, iron, potassium, and chlorine, it decreased those of sodium concentration in barley leaves. The maximum changes in the element concentrations were obtained at 10(-9) M for plant leaves treated with progesterone, 10(-6) M for plant leaves treated with beta-estradiol and androsterone. The present study elucidated that MSH significantly (p < 0.05) affected the inorganic element concentrations in barley leaves.