Germanium for plants: antihypoxant
Germanium (Ge)
For the plant – antihypoxant.
In the plant organism germanium promotes the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen, and the subsequent utilization of oxygen.
It is known that due to germanium deficiency, seed germination and plant development are inhibited. To accelerate the growth of soybeans, tomatoes, and cucumbers, an extract from edible mushrooms grown in a medium containing germanium is used.
Large amounts of germanium are toxic to the plant. Germanium is non-toxic to mold fungi.
In the presence of excess germanium, plants exhibit various developmental anomalies: gigantism of individual organs (more often – flowers), uneven thickening of the stem, and heterogeneity of coloration. It is suggested, although data is still limited, that there is an interaction between silicon and germanium, and those plants that require silicon for growth are more sensitive to germanium.
The content of germanium in grains is 0.09-0.7 mg/kg, in vegetables – 0.02-0.07 mg/kg (based on raw mass). The concentration of germanium in ash is about 20 mg/kg. In tubular fungi, germanium is 50 to 100 times more than in plants. Medicinal plants containing germanium:
- common ginseng Panax ginseng CAMey., Araliaceae (roots – 0.01–1 µg/g);
- spirulina Spirulina platensis (Nordst.) Geitl. (= Arthrospira platensis Gomont), Phormidiaceae, Cyanobacteria (microalgae, whole plant);
- saccharine laminaria Laminaria saccharina (L.) J.V. Lamour., Laminariaceae, Phaeophyta (thalli);
- bladder wrack Fucus vesiculosus L., Fucaceae, Phaeophyta (thalli);
- comfrey Symphytum officinale L., Boraginaceae (roots);
- sage Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae (leaves);
- tree aloe Aloe arborescens Mill., Asphodelaceae (leaves).