The effect of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM nano calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 and
calcium oxide CaO or bulk calcium carbonate CaCO3 on growth and metabolic
changes of Lupines termis seedlings was assessed. Root fresh and dry weights were
increased by nano CaO at 0.5 and 1.0 mM compared with the control, while they were
decreased by increasing nano Ca(OH)2. Shoot fresh and dry weights were increased
by increasing the concentration of nano Ca(OH)2 and CaO reaching their maximum
at 0.5 and 2.0 mM, respectively. Bulk CaCO3 concentrations increased root and shoot
fresh and dry weights at the highest concentration (2mM). The photosynthetic
pigments (chl.a, chl.b and carotenoids) were markedly increased with increasing the
concentration of nano Ca (OH)2, nano CaO and bulk CaCO3 with the highest
magnitude recorded for nano Ca(OH)2, while the lowest was for CaCO3. The total
soluble carbohydrate biosynthesis of both shoot and root was reduced by nano
calcium particles, whereas it was enhanced by bulk calcium compared with control.
The root soluble protein was decreased by different concentrations of either nano or
bulk calcium, while shoot soluble protein was increased by all calcium treatments
compared with the control. The nano calcium especially Ca(OH)2 activated the
protein metabolism compared with the bulk. The root and shoot phenolic compounds
were decreased by different concentrations of either nano or bulk calcium, except of
the shoot phenolic compounds at CaCO3. Nano CaO at 0.5 mM increased shoot
phenolic compounds by 10% compared with control.