Exploring the growth potential of Albizia procera and Leucaena leucocephala as influenced by magnetic fields
Due to the discriminate use of plant chemicals and their resultant negative impact on the environment, researchers are interested in monitoring plant behavior as modified by various nonchemical influences such as magnetic fields. A pot experiment was designed to assess the growth potential of Albizia procera Roxb. (Sufed Sirin) and Leucaena leucocephala Lam. (Ipil Ipil) seedlings, established from seeds exposed to a magnetic field (MF) of 75 millitesla for 3 different time intervals, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min respectively. After the seeds were exposed to a MF of 75 mT for 15 min, A. procera plants showed 49% more germination than in the control (41%), whereas L. leucocephala plants gained 37% more germination in the same treatment. A. procera had maximum plant height (13.1 cm) when seeds were exposed to a MF of 75 mT for 15 min, while the height gained by the control was only 7.1 cm. Similarly, L. leucocephala gained maximum plant height (17.8 cm) when seeds were treated with MF for 15 min, i.e. 137% greater than the height gained from nontreated seeds (7.5 cm). Seed exposure to MFs also resulted in higher collar diameter in both plants. In high-MF-treated A. procera (18.6 cm) seedlings, root length was 3 times longer than in the control (6.5 cm); MF-treated L. leucocephala seedlings gained maximum (63% longer) root length (18.9 cm), as well. A. procera had its maximum root-to-shoot ratio (R/S) (1.9) in the seedlings treated with low MF (5 min), whereas L. leucocephala had its maximum R/S (1.6) in nontreated seeds. Seeds exposed to MF for 5 min resulted in minimum R/S (0.9). The results clearly suggested that by increasing the time intervals for seed exposure to the fixed MF of 75 mT, the sowed seeds of both species showed higher growth rate.
Exploring the growth potential of Albizia procera and Leucaena leucocephala as influenced by magnetic fields
Due to the discriminate use of plant chemicals and their resultant negative impact on the environment, researchers are interested in monitoring plant behavior as modified by various nonchemical influences such as magnetic fields. A pot experiment was designed to assess the growth potential of Albizia procera Roxb. (Sufed Sirin) and Leucaena leucocephala Lam. (Ipil Ipil) seedlings, established from seeds exposed to a magnetic field (MF) of 75 millitesla for 3 different time intervals, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min respectively. After the seeds were exposed to a MF of 75 mT for 15 min, A. procera plants showed 49% more germination than in the control (41%), whereas L. leucocephala plants gained 37% more germination in the same treatment. A. procera had maximum plant height (13.1 cm) when seeds were exposed to a MF of 75 mT for 15 min, while the height gained by the control was only 7.1 cm. Similarly, L. leucocephala gained maximum plant height (17.8 cm) when seeds were treated with MF for 15 min, i.e. 137% greater than the height gained from nontreated seeds (7.5 cm). Seed exposure to MFs also resulted in higher collar diameter in both plants. In high-MF-treated A. procera (18.6 cm) seedlings, root length was 3 times longer than in the control (6.5 cm); MF-treated L. leucocephala seedlings gained maximum (63% longer) root length (18.9 cm), as well. A. procera had its maximum root-to-shoot ratio (R/S) (1.9) in the seedlings treated with low MF (5 min), whereas L. leucocephala had its maximum R/S (1.6) in nontreated seeds. Seeds exposed to MF for 5 min resulted in minimum R/S (0.9). The results clearly suggested that by increasing the time intervals for seed exposure to the fixed MF of 75 mT, the sowed seeds of both species showed higher growth rate.
___
- Aksenov SI, Bulychev AA, Grunina TYu, Turovetskii VB (1996) Mechanisms of the Action of a Low Frequency Magnetic Field on the Initial Stages of Germination of Wheat Seeds. Biology Faculty of Lomonosov State University, Moscow.
- Aladjadjiyan A (2002) Study of the influence of magnetic field on some biological characteristics of Zea maize. J Cent Eur Agric 3: 89 – 94.
- Aladjadjiyan A, Ylieva T (2003) Influence of stationary magnetic field on the early stage of the development of tobacco seeds. J Cent Eur Agric 4: 131 –138.
- Arababian S, Majd A, Flahian F, Samimi H (2001) The effect of magnetic field on germination and early growth in tree varieties Arachus hypogaea. J Bio Sci 2: 3227–3535.
- Atak Ç, Çelik Ö, Olgun A, Alikamanoğlu S, Rzakoulieva A (2007) Effect of magnetic field on peroxidase activities of soybean tissue culture. Biotech 21: 166–171.
- Atak Ç, Emiroğlu Ö, Alikamanoğlu S, Rzakoulieva A (2003) Stimulation of regeneration by magnetic field in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) tissue cultures. J Cell Mol Biol 2: 113–119.
- Beltran-Garcia MJ, Estarron-Espinosa M, Ogura T (1997) Volatile compounds secreted by the oyster mushroom and their antibacterial activities. J Agric Food Chem 45: 4049–4052.
- Carbonell MV, Martinez E, Amaya JM (2000) Stimulation of germination in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by a static magnetic field. Electromagn Biol Med 19: 121–128.
- Celestino C, Picazo M L, Tiruvui M (2000) Influence of chronic exposure to an electromagnetic field on germination and early growth of Quercus suber seeds: preliminary study. Electromagn Biol Med 19: 115–120.
- De Souza A, Garcia DA, Sueiro L, Gilart F, Porras E, Licea L (2006) Pre-sowing magnetic treatment of tomato seeds increased the growth and yield of plants. Bioelectromagn 27: 247–257.
- Esitken A (2003) Effects of magnetic fields on yields and growth in strawberry (Camarosa). J Hort Sci Biotec 78: 145–147.
- FAO (2006) National Forest Product Statistics, Pakistan. FAO, Rome. AC778E15.htm.
- Faqenabi F, Tajbkhsh M, Bernoosi I, Saber-Rezaii M, Tahri F, Parvizi S, Izadkhah M, Gorttapeh AH, Sedqi H (2009) The effect of magnetic field on growth, development and yield of safflower and its comparison with other treatments. Res J Bio Sci 4: 174- 178.
- Hartmann, HT, Kofranek AM, Rubatzky VE, Floker WJ (1988) Growth Development and Utilization of Cultivated Plants. Plant Science. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
- Hozayn M, Qados AMSA (2010) Magnetic water application for improving wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop production. Agric Biol J N Am 1: 677–682.
- Lynikiene S, Poeliene A (2003) Effect of electrical field on barley seed germination stimulation. CIGR J Sci Res Dev 5: http://hdl. handle.net/1813/10326.
- Kato R (1988) Effects of magnetic fields on the growth of primary roots of Zea mays. Plant Cell Physiol 29: 1215–1219.
- Kato R, Kamada H, Asashma M (1989) Effects of high and very low magnetic fields on the growth of hairy roots of Daucus carotta and Atropa belladonna. Plant Cell Physiol 30: 605–608.
- McLeod BR, Liboff AR, Smith SD (1992) Biological systems in transition: sensitivity to extremely low-frequency fields. Electromagn Biol Med 11: 29–42.
- Penuelas J, Llusia J, Martinez B, Fontcuberta J (2004) Diamagnetic susceptibility and root growth responses to magnetic fields in Lens culinaris, Glycine soja, and Triticum aestivum. Electromagn Biol Med 23: 97–112.
- Pietruszewski S (1999) Effect of alternating magnetic field on germination, growth and yield of plant seeds. Inzynieria Rolnicza 5: 209–215.
- Quraishi MAA (2003) Basics of Forestry and Allied Sciences. A-One Publishers, Lahore.
- Racuciu M, Calugaru GH, Creanga DE (2006) Static magnetic field influence on some plant growth. Rom Journ Phys Bucharest 51: 245–251.
- Reina FG, Pascual LA (2001) Influence of a stationary magnetic field on water relations in lettuce seeds. Part I: Theoretical considerations. Bioelectromagn 22: 589–595.
- Reina FG, Pascua LA, Fundora IA (2001) Influence of a stationary magnetic field on water relations in lettuce seeds. Part II: Experimental results. Bioelectromagn 22: 596–602.
- Scopa A, Colacino C, Lumaga MB, Pariti L, Martelli G (2009) Effects of a weak DC electric field on root growth in Arundo donax (Poaceae). Acta Agric Scand B 59: 481–484.
- Steel RGD, Torrie TH (1980) Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill, London.
- Sytnik KM, Kordym EL, Nedukha EM, Sidorenko PG, Fomicheva VM (1984). Plant Cell under Alterations in Geophysical Factors. Naukova Dumka, Kiev.
- Yaycili O, Alikamanoglu S (2005) The effect of magnetic field on Paulownia tissue cultures. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 83: 1109–1114.