This study concerns the effects of a weak static magnetic field (MF) at 10 μT oriented downward, combined with a 16-Hz sinusoidal MF (10 μT), on in vitro pollen germination of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). Extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) exposure was carried out by a signal generator unit connected to a copper wire solenoid, inside which samples where placed. Two different kinds of treatment were performed: direct and indirect. In the direct treatment, pollen samples were directly exposed during rehydration, germination, or both. In the indirect treatment, the pollen growth medium was prepared with water aliquots (at standard temperature of 20°C and pH = 6.74) that were exposed before use for 8 or 24 h. The main purpose of our research was to identify a biological marker (in vitro pollen germination in a stressing growth medium without Ca2+) susceptible to the effects of direct or indirect ELF-MF exposure. The working variable was the pollen germination rate, as detected blind after 3 h 30 min by an Axioplan microscope. A directionally consistent recovery of germination percentage was observed both for direct exposure (during germination and both rehydration and germination phases) and water-mediated exposure (with water exposed for 24 h and immediately used). Our results suggest that the ELF-MF treatment might partially remove the inhibitory effect caused by the lack of Ca2+ in the culture medium, inducing a release of internal Ca2+ stored in the secretory vesicles of pollen plasma membrane. Although preliminary, findings seem to indicate the in vitro pollen performance as adequate to study the effects of ELF-MFs on living matter.

Introduction: This study deals with the effects of extremely low doses or high dilutions of pharmacological compounds on in vitro pollen germination of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa). Material and Methods: The biological efficacy of As₂O₃ at the 5th and 45th decimal dilution/succussion level (As 5x and As 45x) was tested on pollen previously stressed with As₂O₃ 150 or 200 μM. The outcome variable was the pollen germination rate, as detected blind after 3 h 30 min by an Axioplan microscope. Results: A directionally consistent recovery of germination percentage was observed in both As 5x and As 45x after stressing with As₂O₃ 150 μM. When pollen was stressed with As₂O₃ 200 μM only as 45x induced a general and significant germination increase. Conclusions: Our results suggest that both treatments might partially remove the inhibitory effect caused by the stressor. Similar effects were observed on the same model using weak extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) mediated through water. Although preliminary, the findings seem to indicate the in vitro pollen performance as adequate to study the effects of physicochemical subthreshold stimuli (extremely low doses or high dilutions of pharmacological compounds, weak ELF-MFs), mediated through water.

In this paper, we review three simple plant models (wheat seed germination, wheat seedling growth, and infected tobacco plants) that we set up during a series of experiments carried out from 1991 to 2009 in order to study the effects of homeopathic treatments. We will also describe the set of statistical tools applied in the different models. The homeopathic treatment used in our experiments was arsenic trioxide (As2O3) diluted in a decimal scale and dynamized. Since the most significant results were achieved with the 45th decimal potency, both for As2O3 (As 45x) and water (W 45x), we here report a brief summary of these results. The statistical analysis was performed by using parametric and nonparametric tests, and Poisson distribution had an essential role when dealing with germination experiments. Finally, we will describe some results related to the changes in variability, which seems to be one of the targets of homeopathic treatment effect.

The potential non-target effects of genetically modified crops are some of the more debated topics within applied biotechnologies in agriculture and environmental risk assessment. The objective of the present research was to study the potential Bt-toxin uptake by the non-target herbivore Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) feeding on transgenic oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus cv. 'Westar' lines GT 2-4) expressing the Cry1Ac endotoxin. A specific aim was to replicate our previous experiment in controlled laboratory conditions to avoid or minimize the risk of contamination leading to potential false positive results. The toxin levels in vernalized (V) and not-vernalized (not-V) transgenic oilseed rape plants was also monitored to better clarify the role of physiological processes on Bt-toxin expression. Cry1Ac expression in not-V plants (mean concentration±SE=167.8±5.7 μg kg-1 FW) showed a pattern of large variability, in comparison with V plants whose expression (mean concentration±SE=227.7±1.9 μg kg-1 FW) was significantly more stable. Cry1Ac toxin was detected in three aphid samples reared on V plants with a mean toxin concentration±SE of 4.8±0.6 μg Kg-1 FW and in three out of six samples of aphids reared on not-V plants (mean toxin concentration±SE=7.1±1.2 μg kg-1 FW). The mean Bt-toxin concentration of all the positive aphid samples was 5.9±1.0 μg kg-1 FW. Our results confirmed the findings of our previous experiment and highlighted the potential for Cry1Ac toxin uptake by aphids feeding on transgenic oilseed rape plants.

This study concerns the biological effects and physico-chemical variations of extremely diluted solutions (EDS) as a function of aging-time. The biological efficacy of As 2 O 3 at the 45th decimal dilution/succussion (As 45×) was tested in a wheat germination model. Ten trials were carried out from 0 to 12 months after treatment preparation, using wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L.) of the Pandas variety. Seeds were pre-treated by poisoning with 0.1% As 2 O 3 solution to reduce germination, to allow a better evaluation of treatment effects. The outcome variable was the number of non-germinated seeds after 96 h. The As 45× treatment aged for less than three months did not show a significant effect on wheat germination, whereas when aged for longer (3-12 months) the effect became significant. Concerning the physico-chemical characteristics, specific conductivity of As 45× aged from 0 to 12 months was measured, using nine samples for each date. The results showed a clear increasing time trend of specific conductivity, more evident when considering the last three measurements, which correspond to more than six months of aging. The physico-chemical behavior of EDS strongly supports the significant biological effects observed in a wheat model.