Growth promotion and a decrease of oxidative stress in maize seedlings by a combination of geomagnetic and weak...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production can impede plant growth.
• Iron absorption and Fenton chemistry contribute to oxidative stress in plants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of combined static and alternative magnetic fields on maize seedling growth.
• To determine if magnetic field exposure alleviates oxidative stress in maize seedlings.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical calculations determined optimal magnetic field frequencies.
• Maize seeds were germinated and seedlings grown in a combined magnetic field.
• Biochemical assays measured antioxidant enzyme activity, total antioxidant capacity, and iron content.

Main Results:

• Magnetic field-treated seedlings exhibited a faster growth rate compared to controls.
• Superoxide dismutase activity was lower, while total antioxidant capacity was higher in treated seedlings.
• Reduced iron content and maintained membrane integrity were observed in magnetic field-exposed plants.

Conclusions:

• A combination of static and alternative magnetic fields promotes maize seedling growth.
• Magnetic field exposure mitigates oxidative stress by reducing iron absorption and Fenton chemistry.
• This approach offers a potential strategy for enhancing crop yield through controlled magnetic field application.