The effects of electric field on the growth of intact seedlings and coleoptile segments ofZea mays L.

Abstract

The experiments were carried out with 96-h-old intact maize seedlings and 10 mm long coleoptile segments cut 4 mm below the tip. The electric fields were applied longitudinally along the seedlings. The electric field (15 V) caused inhibition of the elongation growth of intact seedlings which was dependent on both the polarity and the duration of the applied voltage. The growth inhibition was greater when the tip of the shoot was positive relative to the roots. The electric field also caused inhibition of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and fusicoccin (FC) induced growth of maize coleoptile segments excised from electrically treated seedlings. IAA-induced growth of coleoptile segments was greater when the tip of the shoot was negative to the roots (not in the case of FC-treated segments and intact seedlings). It was suggested that apart from the changes induced by electric field in transport system of auxin the electric field affected also the activity of plasmalemma proton pump.

The effect of DC electric field on the elongation growth, proton extrusion and membrane potential of Zea mays L. coleoptile cells; a laboratory study

“…The inhibitory effect of a longitudinally applied voltage upon the growth of Z . mays L. seedlings was previously observed by Desrosiers and Bandurski [ 19 ] and Karcz and Burdach [ 20 ]. However, direct comparisons of the results obtained by the authors mentioned above with ours presented here are difficult because of the different scenarios of the experiments.…”

“…For example, the present experiments were conducted with 3-day-old seedlings, in which, 24 h after treatment of the seedlings with an electric field, their organ growth was measured. In experiments described by Desrosiers and Bandurski [ 19 ] and Karcz and Burdach [ 20 ] the growth of maize seedlings was measured during the application of a voltage. It should also be added that Desrosiers and Bandurski [ 19 ] attributed the inhibitory effect of the electric field to the changes in the voltage-dependent gating of the movement of IAA from stele to cortex.…”

“…Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops in the world and is very often used as the experimental material [18]. In recent years, much attention has been paid to plant growth and development due to increasing environmental exposure, including climate changes, which may additionally have a negative impact on cereal crops, including Zea mays L. Previously, only a few studies on the effect of the electric field on the growth of plant cells were conducted using Zea mays L [19][20][21].…”

Growth and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) near a high voltage transmission line

“…Plants with a priori higher metabolic activity would be able to take greater advantage of the better growth conditions than if not prepared [Goldsworthy, 1996]. Karcz and Burdach [1995] and Plätzer et al [1997] observed increased activity of H þ -ATPases in electric fields, leading, for example, to enhanced lily pollen tube growth. These results show that the electrical field is effective on the single cell or protoplast level and also suggest that under certain conditions, an intact organism may benefit either partly or as a whole.…”

Effects of electromagnetic field on the nitrogen, protein and chlorophyll<br>content and peroxidase enzyme activity in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)<br>leaves

“…Although a number of studies have been done on the effects of electromagnetic filed on plants growth, very little is known about the specific physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that take place (Nucitelli, 1988;Karcz and Burdach, 1995;Liang et al, 2009). Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)…”