The influence of deuterium-depleted water Larsen D100 on seed germination parameters in cereal, oilseed, and legume crops

Background. The study aimed to investigate the species-specific effects of deuterium-depleted water (Larsen D100, <100 ppm D) on seed germination and early seedling growth parameters of key agricultural crops (barley, wheat, rapeseed, and lentil) under controlled in vitro conditions. Seeds were germinated in Petri dishes on a fabric material moistened with either distilled water (control) or Larsen D100. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design (CRD) with several biological replications. After 10 days, the following key parameters were assessed: germination rate, seedling length, and fresh biomass. Data were statistically processed using Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U-test (p<0.05). Treatment with deuterium-depleted water had a pronounced and species-specific influence. A significant stimulatory effect was recorded in barley: germination increased by 20%, seedling length by 72%, and biomass by 17% compared to the control. Lentil showed a sharp increase in length (222%) and biomass (64%) of seedlings, although germination rate remained unchanged. In contrast, rapeseed exhibited inhibition of biomass accumulation (a 38% reduction), while wheat parameters did not change. Deuterium-depleted water acts as a powerful metabolic modulator, but its effects are strictly species-specific-ranging from significant stimulation to inhibition. The obtained data highlight the potential for its use in pre-sowing seed treatment for crops such as barley and lentil but strongly caution against universal application without mandatory prior species and cultivar testing. The observed effects are associated with isotope-mediated changes in the kinetics of key enzymatic and osmotic processes in the early stages of plant development.

Purpose. Of the study was to evaluate the effect of deuterium-depleted water (Larsen D100) on germination efficiency (germination rate) and initial growth vigor (length and fresh weight) of seedlings in four economically important species of agricultural crops representing cereals (barley, wheat), oilseeds (rapeseed), and legumes (lentil).

Materials and methods. Seeds of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) were sterilized and germinated in Petri dishes on filter paper moistened with distilled water (control, pH=5.8, EC<5 µS/cm) or deuterium-depleted water (Larsen D100, <100 ppm D). The experiment was set up according to a completely randomized design (CRD) with several biological replications (Petri dishes). Germination was carried out for 10 days at a temperature of 23±1°C. Germination rate, seedling length, and fresh weight were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10.0 software employing parametric (Student’s t-test) or non-parametric (Mann-Whitney U-test) methods for independent samples at a significance level of p<0.05.

Results. The application of Larsen D100 water led to a complex, species-specific response. For barley, significant stimulation was found for all parameters. Germination rate increased by 20%, seedling length by 72%, and fresh weight by 17%. For lentil, no effect on germination rate (~97%) was characteristic, but a sharp increase in length (222%) and fresh weight (64%) of seedlings was observed. Data analysis for rapeseed showed no significant effect on germination and length, but a substantial reduction (38%) in seedling fresh weight. No statistically significant effect on any of the measured parameters of wheat was found.

Conclusion. Deuterium-depleted water Larsen D100 is not a universal biostimulant but represents a powerful species-specific modulator of germination and early growth processes. It significantly enhances the initial growth vigor in barley and lentil but inhibits biomass accumulation in rapeseed, while wheat demonstrates a neutral response. This specificity underscores the critical importance of mandatory preliminary testing on each target crop and cultivar before considering any agronomic application. The detected effects are likely rooted in isotope-induced modifications of the kinetics of metabolic reactions, energy metabolism, and osmotic processes.