Homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid and barley seed germination

Abstract

The potentisation process by which homeopathic preparations are produced raises the concern that these medicines have placebo effects only, since they theoretically no longer contain active molecules of the diluted substance. Plant models offer a method of examining the efficacy of homeopathically prepared solutions. This study examined the effects of homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid (HGA3) on the germination performance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds. The effect of HGA3 (4-200 cH) on seed germination rate and seedling development was compared to that of the most commonly used form of gibberellic acid (GA3), 0.5 g l(-1), and control (distilled water). The extent and type of response was dependent on the vigour level of the seedlot. Treating seeds from three vigour groups in HGA3 consistently resulted in larger seedlings. High-vigour seeds treated with HGA3 4, 30 and 200 cH germinated faster, and roots of medium-vigour seedlots treated in HGA3 15 cH were longer. Biphasic effects of HGA3 were also demonstrated. As a plant model, germinating barley seeds successfully demonstrated the ability of HGA3 to produce a biological response.

A Biostatistical Insight into the As2O3 High Dilution Effects on the Rate and Variability of Wheat Seedling Growth

“…In particular, the As2O3 45x treatment of stressed seeds, which had induced an increase in germination of 6.4% and 12.1% in two successive experiments [8] and a stimulating effect on seedling stem growth of 24.0% [4], once again showed its efficacy, enhancing shoot growth by 24.7% (which is impressively close to 24.0%). The range of the observed effects (about 6-25%) is consistent with that reported in literature for a similar experimental setup based on seedling growth of wheat [6,18] or barley [19]. Effects of the same magnitude have been observed with other plant-based models, such as cowpea infected by root-knot nematodes [20] or tobacco infected with tobacco mosaic virus [7].…”

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

“…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. Homeopathically prepared gibberellic acid was also tested on barley stalk length, with different results according to seedlings' vigour levels [16]. …”

Changes in phytohormone contents in chickpea seeds germinating under lead or zinc stress

“…Gibberellic acid plays an important role in the germination of seeds and the embryo is a source of gibberellic acid during germination. Also, the hormone gibberellin affects a number of processes during plant development including seed germination, leaf expansion, stem elongation, flower initiation, and flower and fruit development (Salisbury and Ross 1992, Dewar et al 1998, Hamman et al 2003. Abscisic acid has been related to different types of environmental stress (Colorado et al 1994, Monni et al 2001, Pospíšilová 2003 and also it was increased dramatically when seeds were subjected to stressful conditions (Daie and Cambell 1981, Cohen et al 1991, Curry et al 1991.…”