Growth Stimulation of Dwarf Peas (Pisum sativum L.) through Homeopathic Potencies of Plant Growth Substances

Abstract

Background: Efficacy of higher homeopathic potencies is controversial. Universally accepted specific detection assays for homeopathic dilutions do not exist. Basic research has to develop a spectrum of standardized tools to investigate the mode of action and nature of homeopathic potencies. Objective: Can the shoot growth reaction of dwarf peas (gibberellin- deficient mutants) be regarded as evidence of treatment with homeopathic potencies of plant growth substances? Materials and Methods: Pea seed (Pisum sativum L. cv. Früher Zwerg) is immersed for 24 hours in homeopathic potency or control solutions for soaking. Plants germinate and grow in a standard cultivation substrate under controlled environmental conditions. Shoot length is measured 14 days after planting. Results: A screening of homeopathic potencies (12x-30x) of four different plant growth substances revealed biological activity of certain potency levels of gibberellin and kinetin (p < 0.05). Growth stimulation through gibberellin 17x (5 × 10_{-18 M}) was assessed in six independent replications; results confirmed those of the screening (p < 0.05). The effect of gibberellin 17x seemed to weaken during the course of the experiments. Conclusion: The results back the hypothesis that homeopathic potencies of plant growth substances affect pea shoot growth. Dwarf peas might thus be an interesting system model for studying the action of homeopathic potencies. Further work is required to identify all boundary conditions modulating the reactivity of this system.

Effects of Potentised Substances on Growth Kinetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe

“…Moreover, traces of phosphorus are ubiquitously present in the environment. Also such changes have repeatedly been reported from different test systems [15,16,18,35,38,56]. However, the effects found are very small.…”

Seasonal Variation of the Effect of Extremely Diluted Agitated Gibberellic Acid (10e-30) on Wheat Stalk Growth: A Multiresearcher Study

“…The model may be useful for further research as there exists a theoretical justification due to previous studies with wheat [1–4], as well as with potentized plant hormones [4, 13–16]; its methods are well standardized. A weakness is that homeopathic studies on plants sometimes yield contradictory results, for example, stimulation of growth in one and inhibition of growth in another laboratory, both findings being homogeneous and statistically significant within themselves [5–8].…”

“…The test substance and control were prepared and inspired by Baumgartner et al [13] according to the method of stepwise dilution and succession as derived from homeopathy. The degree of dilution was set to 10 −30 in order to exceed Avogadro's limit of theoretical 0 molarity (10 −24 ).…”

“…For the study presented here, the use of ultrahigh diluted potentized hormones has been inspired by zoological studies (on amphibians and thyroxin) [10–12] and by botanical studies of Baumgartner et al (dwarf pea shoot growth/duckweed development and gibberellic acid) [13–15]. Baumgartner's experiments showed a reproducible stimulation of growth by the dilution 10 −17 in some but not all subexperiments, depending on the harvest lots used.…”

Models with Plants, Microorganisms and Viruses for Basic Research in Homeopathy

“…Between the most recent papers, three studies have examined the effects of homeopathically prepared plant hormones (e.g. gibberellic acid or kinetin) on the germination performance of barley seeds (Hamman et al, 2003), length growth of dwarf peas (Baumgartner et al, 2004) and frond (leaf-like structures) area growth rate of duckweed (Scherr et al, 2007). In all cases, significant effects have been observed, supporting the hypothesis that homeopathic potencies of plant growth substances may be effective.…”