Geomagnetic Field (GMF)-Dependent Modulation of Iron-Sulfur Interplay in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

The geomagnetic field (GMF) is an environmental factor affecting the mineral nutrient uptake of plants and a contributing factor for efficient iron (Fe) uptake in Arabidopsis seedlings. Understanding the mechanisms underlining the impact of the environment on nutrient homeostasis in plants requires disentangling the complex interactions occurring among nutrients. In this study we investigated the effect of GMF on the interplay between iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) by exposing Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown under single or combined Fe and S deficiency, to near-null magnetic field (NNMF) conditions. Mineral analysis was performed by ICP-MS and capillary electrophoresis, whereas the expression of several genes involved in Fe and S metabolism and transport was assayed by qRT-PCR. The results show that NNMF differentially affects (i) the expression of some Fe- and S-responsive genes and (ii) the concentration of metals in plants, when compared with GMF. In particular, we observed that Cu content alteration in plant roots depends on the simultaneous variation of nutrient availability (Fe and S) and MF intensity (GMF and NNMF). Under S deficiency, NNMF-exposed plants displayed variations of Cu uptake, as revealed by the expression of the SPL7 and miR408 genes, indicating that S availability is an important factor in maintaining Cu homeostasis under different MF intensities. Overall, our work suggests that the alteration of metal homeostasis induced by Fe and/or S deficiency in reduced GMF conditions impacts the ability of plants to grow and develop.

The Effects of Uniform and Nonuniform Magnetic Fields in Plant Growth: A Meta‐Analysis Approach

“…Finally, the molecular and metabolic effects of a MF have started to be studied in plants. Using a near null MF (NNMF), different authors have reported changes at the nutritional level [Narayana et al, 2018; Islam et al, 2020; Vigani et al, 2021], lipid composition [Islam et al, 2020] and gene expression. Interestingly, the speed of these responses suggests a first signaling stage that does not depend on gene expression [Narayana et al, 2018], even though several gene responses have been reported in response to a MF.…”

Geomagnetic Anomaly in the Growth Response of Peat Moss Sphagnum riparium to Temperature

“…The modulation of signaling and metabolic processes in plants by the geomagnetic field is the subject of a growing number of studies [ 22 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. In the introduction, we presented the background that the temperature growth responses of plants can also be modulated by the geomagnetic field.…”

The Geomagnetic Field (GMF) Is Required for Lima Bean Photosynthesis and Reactive Oxygen Species Production

“…To study these effects, we built an exposure system made of a triaxial Helmholtz coils system of about 8 m 3 able to reduce the GMF from values of about 42,000 nT and inclination of about 58 • (average values in Italy) to Near Null MF (NNMF) values (about 30 nT) [34]. With this system, we already showed that plants differentially perceive MF variations in shoots and roots [35], with higher root oxidative stress responses [36], modulate ROS production and scavenging mechanisms [33], delay the transition to flowering, reduce leaf area index and flowering stem length and downregulate the flowering-related genes [34], alter clock gene amplitude [37], modulate gene expression pathways downstream of cryptochrome and phytochrome photoactivation [11], alter Fe and copper uptake efficiency and plant mineral nutrition [25,26] as well as lipid metabolism [38].…”

“…The expression of MagR and Cry genes has been demonstrated in different organisms [22,23] and was evaluated in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana [24]. In this plant, the GMF affects the expression of iron-uptake genes under iron deprivation conditions and the simultaneous alteration of Fe-S availability [25]. Moreover, alteration of the GMF intensity affects Fe content and homeostasis [26].…”