Magnetic Field (MF) Applications in Plants: An Overview

Abstract

Crop yield can be raised by establishment of adequate plant stand using seeds with high germination ratio and vigor. Various pre-sowing treatments are adopted to achieve this objective. One of these approaches is the exposure of seeds to a low-to-medium level magnetic field (MF), in pulsed and continuous modes, as they have shown positive results in a number of crop seeds. On the basis of the sensitivity of plants to MF, different types of MF have been used for magnetopriming studies, such as weak static homogeneous magnetic fields (0–100 μT, including GMF), strong homogeneous magnetic fields (milliTesla to Tesla), and extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields of low-to-moderate (several hundred μT) magnetic flux densities. The agronomic application of MFs in plants has shown potential in altering conventional plant production systems; increasing mean germination rates, and root and shoot growth; having high productivity; increasing photosynthetic pigment content; and intensifying cell division, as well as water and nutrient uptake. Furthermore, different studies suggest that MFs prevent the large injuries produced/inflicted by diseases and pests on agricultural crops and other economically important plants and assist in reducing the oxidative damage in plants caused by stress situations. An improved understanding of the interactions between the MF and the plant responses could revolutionize crop production through increased resistance to disease and stress conditions, as well as the superiority of nutrient and water utilization, resulting in the improvement of crop yield. In this review, we summarize the potential applications of MF and the key processes involved in agronomic applications. Furthermore, in order to ensure both the safe usage and acceptance of this new opportunity, the adverse effects are also discussed.

Influence of Magnetic Field with Schumann Resonance Frequencies on Photosynthetic Light Reactions in Wheat and Pea

“…There is a small amount of work devoted to the investigation of ELFMFs on photosynthesis and relating processes (see reviews [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]). Moreover, only few works show the influence of these MFs on photosynthesis in plant seedlings [ 36 , 39 ]; other works investigate the influence on photosynthetic parameters in plants after seed treatments by ELFMFs [ 35 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…It is important that ELFMFs can strongly influence physiological processes in living organisms (e.g., see works [ 22 , 25 , 26 ]). There are studies [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] which show the influence of these MFs on growth, seed germination, ions transport, tolerance to environmental stressors, and other processes in plants; however, changes in these processes can be controversial. In particular, numerous investigations (see reviews [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]) focus on the influence of ELFMFs on plant growth processes because positive effects can be important for plant agricultural cultivation, in contrast, negative effects should be considered in plant protection.…”

“…There are studies [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] which show the influence of these MFs on growth, seed germination, ions transport, tolerance to environmental stressors, and other processes in plants; however, changes in these processes can be controversial. In particular, numerous investigations (see reviews [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]) focus on the influence of ELFMFs on plant growth processes because positive effects can be important for plant agricultural cultivation, in contrast, negative effects should be considered in plant protection. It is shown that ELFMFs [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] mostly stimulate plant growth and production of biomass; however, their suppression is also observed.…”

“…In particular, numerous investigations (see reviews [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]) focus on the influence of ELFMFs on plant growth processes because positive effects can be important for plant agricultural cultivation, in contrast, negative effects should be considered in plant protection. It is shown that ELFMFs [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] mostly stimulate plant growth and production of biomass; however, their suppression is also observed. Size and (or) direction of the effect is dependent on plant species (e.g., 60 Hz frequency MF strongly stimulates growth of radish, weakly influences the growth in barley and does not influence this process in mustard [ 31 ]), duration of long-term ELFMF treatment (e.g., 50 Hz frequency MF stimulates wheat growth at 17–24-h treatment and suppresses it at 2-day treatment [ 32 ]), duration of short-term exposition and magnitude of the magnetic fields (e.g., 50 Hz frequency MF induces different growth stimulation at 5, 10, and 15 min of exposition [ 33 ]), etc.…”

“…There are a number of works (see reviews [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]), which show the influence of ELFMFs on photosynthesis and related processes. In particular, treatment by ELFMF can change the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], stimulate gene expression of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit [ 36 ], influence photosynthetic CO 2 assimilation and transpiration [ 36 , 38 , 39 ].…”