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Influence of a stationary magnetic field on water relations in lettuce seeds. Part II: Experimental results
Author(s) -
Reina Francisco Garcìa,
Pascual Luis Arza,
Fundora Ilvelisse Almanza
Publication year - 2001
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.89
Subject(s) - bioelectromagnetics , germination , magnetic field , osmotic pressure , ionic bonding , absorption (acoustics) , field (mathematics) , absorption of water , specific absorption rate , chemistry , physics , botany , ion , mathematics , biology , optics , engineering , telecommunications , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , antenna (radio) , pure mathematics
An experimental study on water absorption by lettuce seeds previously treated in a stationary magnetic field of 0–10 mT is presented. A significant increase in the rate with which the seeds absorb water is observed in the interval 0–10 mT of magnetic treatment. An increment in the total mass of absorbed water in this interval is also observed. These results are consistent with the reports on the increase of germination rate of the seeds, and the theoretical calculation of the variations induced by magnetic fields in the ionic currents across the cellular membrane. The fields originate in changes in the ionic concentration and thus in the osmotic pressure which regulates the entrance of water to the seeds. The good correlation between the theoretical approach and experimental results provides strong evidence that the magnetic field alters the water relations in seeds, and this effect may be the explanation of the reported alterations in germination rate of seeds by the magnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics 22:596–602, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.