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Geomagnetic and strong static magnetic field effects on growth and chlorophyll a fluorescence in Lemna minor
Author(s) -
Jan Luka,
Fefer Dušan,
Košmelj Katarina,
Gaberščik Alenka,
Jerman Igor
Publication year - 2015
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.21898
Subject(s) - lemna minor , earth's magnetic field , chlorophyll fluorescence , photosystem ii , frond , chlorophyll , growth rate , magnetic field , fluorescence , magnetostatics , bioelectromagnetics , photosynthesis , chemistry , botany , biology , physics , optics , aquatic plant , ecology , macrophyte , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
The geomagnetic field (GMF) varies over Earth's surface and changes over time, but it is generally not considered as a factor that could influence plant growth. The effects of reduced and enhanced GMFs and a strong static magnetic field on growth and chlorophyll a (Chl a ) fluorescence of Lemna minor plants were investigated under controlled conditions. A standard 7 day test was conducted in extreme geomagnetic environments of 4 µT and 100 µT as well as in a strong static magnetic field environment of 150 mT. Specific growth rates as well as slow and fast Chl a fluorescence kinetics were measured after 7 days incubation. The results, compared to those of controls, showed that the reduced GMF significantly stimulated growth rate of the total frond area in the magnetically treated plants. However, the enhanced GMF pointed towards inhibition of growth rate in exposed plants in comparison to control, but the difference was not statistically significant. This trend was not observed in the case of treatments with strong static magnetic fields. Our measurements suggest that the efficiency of photosystem II is not affected by variations in GMF. In contrast, the strong static magnetic field seems to have the potential to increase initial Chl a fluorescence and energy dissipation in Lemna minor plants. Bioelectromagnetics. 36:190–203, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.