Magnetic field can alleviate toxicological effect induced by cadmium in mungbean seedlings

Abstract

To alleviate toxicological effect induced by cadmium in mungbean seedlings, seeds were divided into four groups: The controls groups (CK, without treatment), magnetic field treated groups (MF), cadmium treated groups (CS), and magnetic field treated followed by cadmium treated groups (MF + CS).The results showed: (i) Compared with the controls, cadmium stress resulted in enhancing in the concentration of malondialdehyde, H(2)O(2) and O(2-), and the conductivity of electrolyte leakage while decreasing in the nitrice oxide synthase (NOS) activity, the concentration of nitrice oxide (NO), chlorophyll and total carbon and nitrogen, the net photosynthetic rate, the stomatal conductance, the transpiration rate, the water use efficiency, the lateral number and seedlings growth except for intercellular CO(2) concentration increase. However, the seedlings treated with 600 mT magnetic field followed by cadmium stress the concentration of malondialdehyde, H(2)O(2) and O(2-), and the conductivity of electrolyte leakage decreased, while the above mentioned NO concentration, NOS activity, photosynthesis and growth parameters increased compared to cadmium stress alone. (ii) Compared with the cadmium stress (CS), the seedling growth were inhibited when the seeds were treated with NO scavenger (hemoglobin, HB) and inhibition of NO generating enzyme (sodium tungstate, ST), conversely, the seedling growth were improved by the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and CaCl(2). In the case of the HB and ST treatment followed by magnetic field and then the seedling subjected to CS, the seedlings growth was better than that of hemoglobin (HB) followed by CS and ST followed by CS. The seeds were treated with SNP and CaCl(2) followed by MF, and then subjected to CS, the seedlings growth were better than that of SNP followed by CS, and CaCl(2) followed by CS. These results suggested that magnetic field compensates for the toxicological effects of cadmium exposure are related to NO signal.

Magnetic fields: how is plant growth and development impacted?

“…Wilczek) seedlings, the concentrations of MDA, H 2 O 2 , and O 2− , and the conductivity of electrolyte leakage increased; however, the activity of nitric oxide synthase and thus the concentration of nitric oxide, as well as the net photosynthetic rate, decreased (Chen et al 2011). When 600 mT MF (755R magnetometer, Model 2G Co., USA) was applied to seedlings before Cd stress, the toxic effects caused by Cd stress were alleviated and all growth parameters of seedlings (shoot and root length, number of lateral roots, fresh and dry weight, water concentration) were higher than in Cd-stressed seedlings although shoot and root length was not significantly different from the control.…”

“…Consequently, in vitro experiments and trials will likely remain the choice scale of MF research, including for spacerelated research, because of space constraints and scale-up experiments, although useful for elucidating mechanisms of action, would require a detailed cost analysis before practical application. The ability of MFs to allow the growth of wheat and common bean seedlings to continue under salt or osmotic stress after exposure for 7 days at 7 mT (Cakmak et al 2010), its stress-protecting effect under water, salt, heavy-metal or heat stress (Xi et al 1994;Ružič and Jerman 2002;Chen et al 2011;Selim and El-Nady 2011) and to enhance organogenesis of soybean under salt stress (Radhakrishnan and Kumari 2013b) suggests that the use of MFs could be useful in the alleviation of abiotic stress in vitro or in the field.…”

Magnetic field effects on plant growth, development, and evolution

“…Static continuous MF and EF at low intensities have distinct impacts on the antioxidant system in plant leaves, and weak MF is involved in antioxidant-mediated reactions in the apoplast, resulting in overcoming a possible redox imbalance (Cakmak et al, 2012). In mung bean seedlings treated with 600 mT MF followed by cadmium stress the concentration of malondialdehyde, H 2 O 2 and O − 2 , and the conductivity of electrolyte leakage decreased, while the NO concentration and NOS activity increased compared to cadmium stress alone, showing that MF compensates for the toxicological effects of cadmium exposure are related to NO signal (Chen et al, 2011). …”

Application of a weak magnetic field to improve microbial fuel cell performance

“…Increased biodegradation of formaldehyde by activated sludge was achieved under a static MF exposure (Łebkowska et al 2011). In addition, an MF was also found to alleviate the toxicological effect induced by cadmium in mungbean seedlings (Chen et al 2011). …”