Optical absorption spectra of germinated seedlings from seeds exposed to vehicle polluting gases

High pollution rates in large cities have had a negative impact on human, animal and plant health. In the case of plants, several techniques have been used to analyze the physical and physiological parameters of their seedlings and seed germination process, under different environmental conditions. This study proposed the evaluation of seedlings from corn, lentils and bean seeds, exposed to polluting gases (CO, CO₂) through a container system of a vehicle engine, during different times (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 min). The seeds, after the exposition to the pollutant gases, were planted, and the optical absorption spectra of each seedling were obtained by photoacoustic spectroscopy. The absorption spectra were obtained in a wavelength range from 250 to 750 nm. The obtained spectra demonstrated significant statistical differences in the wavelength range from 290 to 300 nm (corresponding to optical absorption mainly by flavonoids) and also from 650 to 680 nm (corresponding to optical absorption of chlorophylls). In addition, changes in physiological parameters, during the seed germination process, were evaluated.