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Extremely low frequency weak magnetic fields enhance resistance of NN tobacco plants to tobacco mosaic virus and elicit stress‐related biochemical activities
Author(s) -
Trebbi Grazia,
Borghini Francesco,
Lazzarato Lisa,
Torrigiani Patrizia,
Calzoni G. Lorenzo,
Betti Lucietta
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.20296
Subject(s) - tobacco mosaic virus , tobamovirus , inoculation , phenylalanine ammonia lyase , point of delivery , hypersensitive response , chemistry , virus , biology , phenylalanine , biochemistry , botany , immunology , plant disease resistance , amino acid , gene
Increasing evidence has accumulated concerning the biological effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF‐MFs) in different plant models. In the present study, effects of ELF‐MFs in tobacco plants reacting to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) with a hypersensitive response (HR) were evaluated. Plants were exposed for 8 or 24 h (either before or after TMV inoculation) to a static MF, at either −17 or 13 µT, combined with a 10 Hz sinusoidal MF with different intensities (25.6 or 28.9 µT). The working variables were the area and number of hypersensitive lesions in leaves. Following ELF‐MFs exposure, an increased resistance was detected, particularly after an 8‐h treatment, as shown by the decrease in lesion area and number. Moreover, two enzyme activities involved in resistance mechanisms were analyzed: ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL). Uninoculated leaves previously exposed to ELF‐MFs in general showed a significant increase relative to controls in ODC and PAL activities, in particular for 13 µT static MF plus 28.9 µT, 10 Hz sinusoidal MF (24 h) treatment. In conclusion, ELF‐MFs seem to influence the HR of tobacco to TMV, as shown by the increased resistance and changes in ODC and PAL activities, indicating the reliability of the present plant model in the study of bioelectromagnetic interactions. Bioelectromagnetics 28:214–223, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.