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PRESENT
RESEARCH
Basic |
 |
| Magnetic field effects on plants and fungi | ||
| Present research |
Past research |
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| SINUSOIDAL MAGNETIC FIELD |
At present, our main interest is oriented towards studying non-thermal effects of weak, extremely low frequency magnetic fields on plants and fungi. We are attempting to determine the main principles of magnetic field bioeffects that are also useful in animal and human research. After many experiences which we gained through the research of sinusoidal magnetic fields effects on spruce seedlings (Ruzic et al. 1998a,b,c, 2000, Jerman et al. 1998), fungi (Ruzic et al. 1997) and chestnut buds grown in tissue culture (Ruzic et al. 1992, 1993) we turned our interest to uniform and fast growing cress seedlings (Lepidium sativum). Conscious of the capability of stress factors to elicit or enhance the effects of magnetic fields (Ruzic et al. 1998a,b,c, 2000, Bolognani et al. 1992, Juraškova et al. 1996, Blank et al. 1994, 1996, Goodman, Blank 1998, Michel, Gutzeit 1999, Mittenzwey et al. 1996, Gutzeit 2001) even when the magnetic fields alone had no influence, we began to examine the influence of the magnetic field stimulation on cress seedlings under a controlled heat stress. We obtained more consistent and reproducible growth effects than we ever expected. Measuring the length of 350-400 seedlings (control and exposed) after two days of germination, we detected 5-14% (statistically highly significant) stimulative growth effect only when the seedlings were exposed to sinusoidal magnetic field 50 Hz 100 microT before heat stress (at different temperatures). Magnetic field applied after heat stress produced no effects. While the heat stress alone inhibits the growth of seedlings, it seems that the MF acts as a moderate stress agent that induces protective factors against stronger stress. Such behavior is also known from the studies on multiple environmental stress factors in plants; i.e. the exposure of tissue to moderate stress induces resistance to other stresses (Sabehat et al.1998).
The results are published in Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine (Abstract). Similar results were obtained also with other plant species. These experiments are in process.
Some links for the effects of electromagnetic fields on plants:
http://infoventures.com/emf/letters/woolson.html
http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/AMADOR/Creek/AP99/Mort_Gary/DEFAULT.HTM
Links for some general bioelectromagnetics web sites:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/home.htm
http://www.electricity.org.uk/uk_inds/mn_emf.html
http://www.sscl.uwo.ca/psychology/bemw/bemw.html
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/related_sites.htm
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/html/ProjSumm.pdf
http://infoventures.com/
http://infoventures.com/emf/top/lit-rev.html
http://www.emfguru.com/
http://bioem.ing.uniroma1.it/ebea/welcome.html
FUNGI
We are also interested in studying the effects of weak magnetic fields
on bioluminescence of luminous fungi; however the research is still in
its introductory phase. More about luminescence studies at our Institute
see
here; there are also some other internet links about luminescent fungi:
http://www.fungi.com/info/glowing.html
http://www.luxgene.com/
http://www.forestry.uga.edu/warnell/service/library/for99-021/
http://www.newscientist.com/lastword/answers/600light.jsp?tp=light1
http://wildwnc.org/natnotes/lights.html
http://www.bsi.vt.edu/biol_4684/Methods/bioluminescence.html
Applicative research (see also our research on subtle fields)
The above mentioned experiments with cress seedlings and magnetic fields that produced consistent and repeatable results enable us to develop a useful biological sensor system for detecting various electromagnetic, even very weak, sources from environment or artificial devices. We successfully tested the protective effects of special blankets produced by various companies. A successful shielding effect of the tested product against the environmental electromagnetic fields usually resulted in lowering the heat stress effect on plants.
PAST RESEARCH
PULSED MAGNETIC FIELD
CRESS SEEDLINGS (Lepidium
sativum)
We tested the effects of pulsed magnetic fields at 100 microT and Schumann
resonance's frequencies. These frequencies appear in the nature at very
low intensities. We wanted to know whether organisms are accustomed to
these fields or whether there is any resonance. As yet, we did not observe
any significant effects.
SINUSOIDAL MAGNETIC FIELDS
SPRUCE SEEDLINGS (Picea abies)
The main line of research was to study the effects of sinusoidal magnetic
fields (produced by Helmholtz coils, 25-100 microT, 50 Hz), on the growth
and germination of spruce seeds. 500 seeds were exposed to a defined magnetic
field and the same number was used for the control, therefore all the results
were always compared to the control group grown under identical conditions,
except it was not exposed to magnetic fields. While we were still unable
to predict the biological effects of weak magnetic fields just from the
standpoint of standard physics, such a sensor system would be, at least
in principle, able to give some information about the possible biological
effects of the studied magnetic fields. Another important finding of this
line of research was that under stress conditions (i.e. drought or low
pH) the biological effects of weak magnetic fields were enhanced or at
least detectable, while under normal conditions they may often be undetectable.
The following magnetic fields (MFs) and regimes of exposure were used:
1) Sinusoidal MF (one coil): 50 Hz; 4 mT; 1 h/day, 20-34 days, intact
seedlings and those with their roots cut off, grown in container with moisture
sand. The results showed that MF inhibited the growth of intact main roots
and enhanced the ramification and development of the lateral ones. In the
subsequent experiments the seeds were germinating in Petri dishes and were
maintained in the pasteboard boxes in the dark. (Jerman et al. 1989)
2) Sinusoidal (50 Hz) and high frequency (16 kHz) MF stemming from
ordinary color TV set (at 35 cm distance Emax was 290 V/m, Bmax was 0.2
µT), 8 h/day, 7 days. The results showed that after 7 days the length
of seedlings was significantly longer only when the seeds were previously
soaked in water. When using normally imbibed seeds the lengths were significantly
shorter than in the control group. (Jerman et al. 1996,1998,
Ruzic et al. 1994)
3) Sinusoidal MFs (produced by a pair of Helmholtz like coils): 46
Hz, 10 microT; 50 Hz, 26, 103 and 105 microT, 12 h/day, 7 days. The seeds
were simultaneously exposed to different stress conditions: 1 - drought
stress (simulated by polyethylene glycol, 88 and 176 g/l), 2 - low pH (pH
2 and 3), 3 - soaking of seeds in water for two days, 4 - toxic chemicals
(AlCl3, 40-5000 microM). The results showed that MF 10 microT 46 Hz significantly
stimulated growth of seedlings (i.e. the length), while there were no effects
either on their germination or fresh weight. MF 26 and 105 microT 50 Hz
inhibited growth and fresh weight of seedlings and delayed the germination.
MF 26 microT showed inhibitory effects mostly at pH 2, less at pH 3. MF
105 showed inhibitory effects both at pH 2 and 3. At drought stress the
germination and fresh weight were strongly inhibited. Soaking of seeds
yielded stimulatory results only on the growth of seedlings. MF 103 microT
acting together with toxic chemical (AlCl3) revealed sharp window effect.
The length of seedlings was statistically significantly longer than in
the control only at 100 microM Al. At other concentrations (40, 70, 130,
160, 400, 800, 2000 and 5000 microM Al) MF demonstrated no effects. (Ruzic
et al. 1998a,b,
2000)
4) Sinusoidal MF (generated by a pair of Helmholtz like coils): 50
Hz; 105 µT; 12 h/day, 7 days, when the direct MF effects and the
effects of magnetically treated water were studied (indirect effects).
The seeds were watered simultaneously with distilled and deionised water
(DD), with DD + 0.25, 0.5 or 5 mM Ca2+ and with tap water (1.7 mM Ca2+).
The results showed the inhibitory effect on total germination on the 5th
day of the experiment at 0.5 mM Ca2+ (direct treatment), and at 0.25 mM
Ca2+ (indirect treatment). (Ruzic et al. 1998c)
CHESTNUT BUDS (Castanea sativa)
In our past work we studied the effects of weak magnetic on the growth
of buds of Castanea sativa. Sterile tissue culture technique
was used with following MFs and regimes of exposure:
1) sinusoidal MF : 50 Hz; 1.2, 3.2 and 5.9 mT; 1 h/day, 28 days.
The results showed the stimulative effect on the growth and rooting of
shoots in June (1.2, 3.2 and 5.9 mT), inhibition in August (3.2 mT) and
stimulative effects again in December (5.9 mT). Rooting was stimulated
with 5.9 mT. (Ruzic et al. 1992)
2) pulsed MF: 2 and 24 Hz; pulse duration 0.055 s; 250 µT,
1 h/day, 2 h/day, 24 h/day and 24 h/day every other day, 28 days. The results
showed that MF 1 h/day, 24 Hz stimulated the growth of shoots and at 2
Hz it induced axillary buds in January and October. (Ruzic et al.1993)
FUNGI
The effects of weak magnetic fields on the growth and membrane lipid
ergosterol of mycorrhizal fungi Pisolithus tinctorius were studied. Two
types of media were used: solid (pH 6) and liquid (pH 3). The homogenous
sinusoidal magnetic field, generated by a pair of Helmholtz coils with
magnetic flux density 0.025 and 0.1 mT and frequency 50 Hz enhanced the
growth of mycelia at early stages of development. The same field at 0.01
mT, 46 Hz had no observable effects. Analysis of the fungi specific membrane
constituent ergosterol by high performance liquid chromatography reveals
a slightly increased content of ergosterol in the mycelia (along with the
observation of stimulated growth). The results indicate some importance
of the membrane which is most probably the acceptor of electromagnetic
signals, as has been revealed by many studies with animals. However, more
exact mechanisms for the explanation of these effects are not known yet.
(Ruzic et al. 1997).
The experiments with spruce seedlings exposed to stress factors and magnetic fields, which produced repeatable results especially at drought stress, enable us to develop a useful biological sensor system for detecting various electromagnetic or subtle fields from environment or special devices. We tested the effects of different fields emitted from VDUs in our normal environment, i.e. TV sets or computer monitors. From the results we advised how to achieve a more efficient protection from the VDU's electromagnetic radiation. (Jerman et al. 1996, 1998, Ruzic et al 1994). We also tested biological response to special protective blankets, chairs, shirts and other equipment against environmental electromagnetic fields.
Our references