Extremely low frequency weak magnetic fields enhance resistance of NN tobacco plants to tobacco mosaic virus and elicit stress‐related biochemical activities

Abstract

Increasing evidence has accumulated concerning the biological effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) in different plant models. In the present study, effects of ELF-MFs in tobacco plants reacting to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) with a hypersensitive response (HR) were evaluated. Plants were exposed for 8 or 24 h (either before or after TMV inoculation) to a static MF, at either -17 or 13 microT, combined with a 10 Hz sinusoidal MF with different intensities (25.6 or 28.9 microT). The working variables were the area and number of hypersensitive lesions in leaves. Following ELF-MFs exposure, an increased resistance was detected, particularly after an 8-h treatment, as shown by the decrease in lesion area and number. Moreover, two enzyme activities involved in resistance mechanisms were analyzed: ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Uninoculated leaves previously exposed to ELF-MFs in general showed a significant increase relative to controls in ODC and PAL activities, in particular for 13 microT static MF plus 28.9 microT, 10 Hz sinusoidal MF (24 h) treatment. In conclusion, ELF-MFs seem to influence the HR of tobacco to TMV, as shown by the increased resistance and changes in ODC and PAL activities, indicating the reliability of the present plant model in the study of bioelectromagnetic interactions.

Magnetic treatment of irrigation water and snow pea and chickpea seeds enhances early growth and nutrient contents of seedlings

“…The response of biological systems to magnetic fields have been reported by various researchers [Goodman et al, 1983;Vakharia et al, 1991;Paradisi et al, 1993;Danilov et al, 1994;Alexander and Doijode, 1995;Blank, 1995;Amaya et al, 1996;Duarte Diaz et al, 1997;Moon and Chung, 2000;De Souza et al, 2006Tenuzzo et al, 2006;Chou, 2007;Florez et al, 2007;Trebbi et al, 2007;Maheshwari and Grewal, 2009]. External electric and magnetic fields influence both the activation of ions and polarisation of dipoles in living cells [Moon and Chung, 2000].…”

Exogenous spermidine, arsenic and β-aminobutyric acid modulate tobacco resistance to tobacco mosaic virus, and affect local and systemic glucosylsalicylic acid levels and arginine decarboxylase gene expression in tobacco leaves

“…The 0.1 mM concentration was chosen for in vitro experiments in order to evaluate the effects of Sd, As and BABA on the HR using the tobacco leaf disk experimental model previously described (Trebbi et al, 2007). Sd, As and BABA were tested in three different experiments.…”

“…The disks were excised in turn from the three intermediate leaves in order to average variability in HR. It was previously observed that leaves at different developmental levels react to TMV inoculation in different ways (Trebbi et al, 2007). The Petri dishes were kept for 3 d in the growth chamber, and hypersensitive lesions were then evaluated.…”

Plants Respond to GSM-Like Radiations

“…Despite these advantages, plants have been used in only a limited number of reports. [5][6][7][8] These advantages derive primarily from their mechanisms for assimilation of materials and energy. In contrast to animals, which absorb and release materials through interior tubes thus minimizing their surface/volume ratio (SVR), plants maximize their SVR to optimize water and mineral uptake (roots) as well as gas exchange and light absorption (leaves).…”