Name: enhancement of the initial growth rate of agricultural plants by using static magnetic fields
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Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields at JoVE.com

This study received supported from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2011-0012728). A poster presenting this study was awarded the Best Poster Award by the Korean Society of Applied Biological Sciences (KSABC).

1. Initial Settings
<ol>
	<li>Agricultural Plant Species
	<ol>
		<li>Use Garden Balsam (Impatiens balsamina), Mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica), Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis), and Mescluns (Lepidium sativum) seeds. 
		NOTE: Impatiens balsamina (Garden Balsam or Rose Balsam) is a species native to India; a few members are also located in Myanmar. Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis or komatsuna) is a variant of the same spec...

<ol>
	<li>Martin, F. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+measurement+of+pollen+tube+growth+inhibition.">In vitro measurement of pollen tube growth inhibition.</a> Plant Physiol. 49, 924-925 (1972).</li><li>Pfahler, P. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+germination+characteristics+of+maize+pollen+to+detect+biological+activity+of+environmental+pollutants.">In vitro germination characteristics of maize pollen to detect biological activity of environmental pollutants.</a> Environ Health Perspect. 37, 125-132 (1981).</li><li>Yao, Z., Tan, X., Du, H., Luo, B., Liu, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+high-current+microwave+ion+source+with+permanent+magnet+and+its+beam+emittance+measurement.">A high-current microwave ion source with permanent magnet and its beam emittance measurement.</a> Rev Sci Instrum. 79, 073304 (2008).</li><li>Hendrickson, C. L., Drader, J. J., Laude, D. A., Guan, S., Marshall, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fourier+transform+ion+cyclotron+resonance+mass+spectrometry+in+a+20+T+resistive+magnet.">Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry in a 20 T resistive magnet.</a> Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 10, 1829-1832 (1996).</li><li>Namba, K., Sasao, A., Shibusawa, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=EFFECT+OF+MAGNETIC+FIELD+ON+GERMINATION+AND+PLANT+GROWTH.">EFFECT OF MAGNETIC FIELD ON GERMINATION AND PLANT GROWTH.</a> Acta Hort. 399, 143-148 (1995).</li><li>Hirota, N., Nakagawa, J., Kitazawa, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+a+magnetic+field+on+the+germination+of+plants.">Effects of a magnetic field on the germination of plants.</a> Journals of Applied Physics. 85, 5717-5719 (1999).</li><li>Penuelas, J., Llusia, J., Martinez, B., Fontcuberta, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diamagnetic+Susceptibility+and+Root+Growth+Responses+to+Magnetic+Fields+in+Lens+culinaris,+Glycine+soja,+and+Triticum+aestivum.">Diamagnetic Susceptibility and Root Growth Responses to Magnetic Fields in Lens culinaris, Glycine soja, and Triticum aestivum.</a> Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. 23, 97-112 (2004).</li><li>Carbonell, M. V., Martinez, E., Amaya, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stimulation+of+germination+in+rice+(Oryza+Sativa+L.)+by+a+static+magnetic+field.">Stimulation of germination in rice (Oryza Sativa L.) by a static magnetic field.</a> Electro- and Magnetobiology. 19, 121-128 (2000).</li><li>Oakley, R. V., Wang, Y. S., Ramakrishna, W., Harding, S. A., Tsai, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+expansion+and+expression+of+alpha-+and+beta-tubulin+gene+families+in+Populus.">Differential expansion and expression of alpha- and beta-tubulin gene families in Populus.</a> Plant Physiol. 145, 961-973 (2007).</li><li>Hoson, T., Matsumoto, S., Soga, K., Wakabayashi, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cortical+microtubules+are+responsible+for+gravity+resistance+in+plants.">Cortical microtubules are responsible for gravity resistance in plants.</a> Plant Signal Behav. 5, 752-754 (2010).</li><li>Kim, S., Im, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Static+magnetic+fields+inhibit+proliferation+and+disperse+subcellular+localization+of+gamma+complex+protein3+in+cultured+C2C12+myoblast+cells.">Static magnetic fields inhibit proliferation and disperse subcellular localization of gamma complex protein3 in cultured C2C12 myoblast cells.</a> Cell Biochem Biophys. 57, 1-8 (2010).</li><li>Benjamini, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Opening+the+Box+of+a+Boxplot.">Opening the Box of a Boxplot.</a> The American Statistician. 42, 257-262 (1988).</li></ol>

In all conditions, magnets should be applied under the petri dish. This study examined the influence of magnetic fields on growth rate of seeds for several agricultural species, with focus on Garden Balsam as a representative of agricultural plants. For instance, tubulin staining was performed on Garden Balsam to evaluate the molecular-level changes in root and stem skeletal micro-structures suggesting influence of the magnetic field in length proliferation. Both the N and S poles of the magnet were applied in a long-ter...

Germination is the growth of a plant that results in the formation of the seedling1. Under certain conditions, seed germination begins and the embryonic tissues resume growth. It begins with hydration to the seed in order to activate enzymes for germination. Seeds can be induced to germinate in vitro (in a Petri dish or test tube)1,2.
Static magnetic fields are special forces that cause movements of molecules with ionic charges by way of the Lorentz force3,4. Lorentz force is formed when an ionized or charged object moves under a magnetic field. Every material is formed with atoms which are composed of electrons and protons. When magnetic fields become present, whether it is static or alternating, it affects the movement of charged material. This also applies to plants and water molecules, which affects the intracellular molecule condition. In a previous study, electromagnetic coils were used to generate pulsed magnetic fields, and &#39;Komatsuna&#39; plants were chosen as the subjects5. In the present study, magnet generated static magnetic fields were used to give a similar but different effects as an expansion study of Lorentz force.
The frequency of the magnetic field, rather than its polarity, is a crucial factor for plant germination. Previous studies have suggested that maximum germination rates were 20% higher than control when the frequency of the magnetic field was approximately 10 Hz. When the field was removed in a retrograde manner, the growth rate was impaired5. Static magnetic fields have a considerable effect on the initial growth6-8, primarily on germination6 and root growth7.
In the present study, we used static magnets to examine the possibility of regulating the growth of agricultural plants by using magnetic fields. In particular, we aimed to determine whether certain conditions of magnetic field application could increase the growth rates to higher levels than those mentioned in the literature. Furthermore, if the initial germination of plants can be successfully increased using a magnetic field, the use of chemical fertilizers can be avoided.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="646">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Static magnets</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">JIM</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">2000Gauss</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">2% horse serum/1% bovine serum albumin/0.1% Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Merged with 55514</td>
			<td>Blocking buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Primary antibody</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz Biotechnology</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">sc-8035</td>
			<td>a-Tubulin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Secondary antibody</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz Biotechnology</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">sc-2010</td>
			<td>FITC-conjugated anti-mouse IgG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">time lapse photographic techniques</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Manually controlled</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td>ISO value 400 &#38; aperture F 3.2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Sony Vegas Pro 13.0</td>
			<td style="width:144px;">Sony</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">N/A</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

enhancement of the initial growth rate of agricultural plants by using static magnetic fields

Electronic devices and high-voltage wires induce magnetic fields. A magnetic field of 1,300-2,500 Gauss (0.2 Tesla) was applied to Petri dishes containing seeds of Garden Balsam (Impatiens balsamina), Mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica), Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis), and Mescluns (Lepidium sativum). We applied magnets under the culture dish. During the 4 days of application, we observed that the stem and root length increased. The group subjected to magnetic field treatment (n = 10) showed a 1.4 times faster rate of growth compared with the control group (n = 11) in a total of 8 days (p &#60;0.0005). This rate is 20% higher than that reported in previous studies. The tubulin complex lines did not have connecting points, but connecting points occur upon the application of magnets. This shows complete difference from the control, which means abnormal arrangements. However, the exact cause remains unclear. These results of growth enhancement of applying magnets suggest that it is possible to enhance the growth rate, increase productivity, or control the speed of germination of plants by applying static magnetic fields. Also, magnetic fields can cause physiological changes in plant cells and can induce growth. Therefore, stimulation with a magnetic field can have possible effects that are similar to those of chemical fertilizers, which means that the use of fertilizers can be avoided.

Tubulin staining showed dispersed or thinned structures in plants grown in the presence of the magnet compared to the control (Figure 2). Moreover, 7 day time-lapse studies with agricultural plants including Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) and Mescluns (Lepidium sativum) indicated that a magnet derived static magnetic field increases the initial growth of these plants (Figure 3).
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Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields at JoVE.com

Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields

The goal of this protocol is to demonstrate the acceleration of the initial growth rate of plants by applying static magnetic fields with no external energy.

Electronic devices and high-voltage wires induce magnetic fields. A magnetic field of 1,300-2,500 Gauss (0.2 Tesla) was applied to Petri dishes containing ...

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