Assessment of Zea mays Sensitivity to Toxic Content of Zinc in Soil

Our work aims to assess Zea mays sensitivity to soil pollution with zinc. The aim was realized on the basis of studies on zinc's effect on the germination and initial growth of Zea mays, determining toxicity thresholds (PT) and estimating the toxic zinc content in zinc, at which a significant inhibition of germination and growth of roots occurs and a significant decline in this plant yields. On the basis of estimated values of EC10, EC20, and EC50 toxicity indicators and zinc phytotoxicity thresholds (PT), it was demonstrated that Zea mays is a plant little sensitive to over-the-norm zinc concentrations in soils, and should not be used as an indicator plant.