Effect of calcium channel blocker on the growth dynamics of plants studied by laser interference auxanometry

A new highly sensitive method — laser interference auxanometry — was used to study plant growth dynamics in permanent regime. It was demonstrated that the calcium channel blocker verapamil decreased the growth rate of rice and buckwheat plants. The degree of slowing down in plant growth depended on verapamil concentration, conditions of growing of plants and performance of the experiment. At low concentrations of verapamil after a decrease in the plant growth rate its partial restoration was observed. High verapamil concentrations suppressed the growth of plants completely. Plants, grown in a mixture of sand and peat, were less sensitive to verapamil than plants, grown in sand. High temperatures increased sensitivity of buckwheat plants to verapamil to a greater degree than of rice plants. Verapamil also slowed down the development of rice and buckwheat plants.