Comparison of HeNe laser and sinusoidal non-uniform magnetic field seed pre-sowing treatment effect on Glycine max (Var 90-I) germination, growth and yield

A review: The nutrition components, active substances and flavonoid accumulation of Tartary buckwheat sprouts and innovative physical technology for seeds germinating

Compared with the common grain, Tartary buckwheat enjoys higher nutritional value. Some distinctive nutrition associated with physiological activity of Tartary buckwheat is valuable in medicine. In addition, it's a good feed crop. In the paper, the main components (starch, protein, amino acid, fatty acid and mineral) and polyphenol bioactive components in Tartary buckwheat and its sprouts were reviewed, and the accumulation of flavonoids in sprouts during germination, especially the methods, synthetic pathways and mechanisms of flavonoid accumulation was summarized. The research on bioactive components and health benefits of Tartary buckwheat also were reviewed. Besides, the applications of innovative physical technology including microwave, magnetic, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, and light were also mentioned and highlighted, which could promote the enrichment of some active substances during seeds germination and growth of Tartary buckwheat sprouts. It would give a good support and benefit for the research and processing of Tartary buckwheat and its sprouts in next day.

Soybean Germination Response to Algae Extract and a Static Magnetic Field Treatment

The present study examines the separate and synergistic effects of macroalgal extract and static magnetic field (SMF) on the germination of soybean seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merrill), cv. Abelina, seedling growth, chlorophyll, and carotenoids content in leaves. Algal extract was produced from freshwater green macroalga (Cladophora glomerata) using ultrasound-assisted extraction. The germination tests were conducted in two stages. Firstly, different concentrations of extracts, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, were applied to a paper substrate. The best results (taking into account germination percentage, seedlings length and weight, and pigments content in leaves) were observed for 20% and 80% extracts. At the same stage, germination of seeds exposed to SMF (exposure times for 3 and 12 min and magnetic inductions of 250 and 500 mT) was studied. The best developed seedlings were determined for the group treated at 3 min with a magnetic induction of 250 mT. In the final step, the simultaneous effects of 20% and 80% algal extracts and treatment with 3 min at 250 mT SMF were tested. Taking into account all the parameters, the simultaneous use of 20% extract and 3 min of 250 mT magnetic induction is recommended.

Effect of Magnetopriming on Photosynthetic Performance of Plants

Magnetopriming has emerged as a promising seed-priming method, improving seed vigor, plant performance and productivity under both normal and stressed conditions. Various recent reports have demonstrated that improved photosynthesis can lead to higher biomass accumulation and overall crop yield. The major focus of the present review is magnetopriming-based, improved growth parameters, which ultimately favor increased photosynthetic performance. The plants originating from magnetoprimed seeds showed increased plant height, leaf area, fresh weight, thick midrib and minor veins. Similarly, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, efficiency of PSII, quantum yield of electron transport, stomatal conductance, and activities of carbonic anhydrase (CA), Rubisco and PEP-carboxylase enzymes are enhanced with magnetopriming of the seeds. In addition, a higher fluorescence yield at the J-I-P phase in polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transient curves was observed in plants originating from magnetoprimed seeds. Here, we have presented an overview of available studies supporting the magnetopriming-based improvement of various parameters determining the photosynthetic performance of crop plants, which consequently increases crop yield. Additionally, we suggest the need for more in-depth molecular analysis in the future to shed light upon hidden regulatory mechanisms involved in magnetopriming-based, improved photosynthetic performance.

He-Ne Laser Seed Treatment Improves the Nutraceutical Metabolic Pool of Sunflowers and Provides Better Tolerance Against Water Deficit

Water-scarce areas are continually increasing worldwide. This factor reduces the quantity and quality of crops produced in affected areas. Physical seed treatments are considered economical and ecofriendly solutions for such problems. It was hypothesized that a moderately drought-tolerant crop grown from seeds treated with a He-Ne laser utilizes water-limited conditions better than plants grown from untreated seeds. A field study was conducted, growing a moderately drought tolerant crop (sunflower) with supportive seed treatment (He-Ne laser treatment at 300 mJ) for 0, 1, 2, and 3 min. Thirty-day-old plants were subjected to two irrigation conditions: 100% (normal) and 50% (water stress). Harvesting was done at flowering (60-day-old plants) at full maturity. The sunflowers maintained growth and yield under water limitation with a reduced achene number. At 50%, irrigation, there was a reduction in chlorophyll a, a+b and a/b; catalase activity; soluble sugars; and anthocyanin, alongside elevated proline. The improved chlorophyll a, a+b and a/b; metabolisable energy; nutritional value; and yield in the plants grown from He-Ne-laser-treated seeds support our hypothesis. Seeds with 2-min exposure to a He-Ne laser performed best regarding leaf area; leaf number; leaf biomass; chlorophyll a, a+b and a/b; per cent oil yield; 50-achene weight; achene weight per plant; carotenoid content; and total soluble phenolic compound content. Thereafter, the leaves from the best performing level of treatment (2 min) were subjected to high-performance-liquid-chromatography-based phenolic profiling and gas-chromatography-based fatty acid profiling of the oil yield. The He-Ne laser treatment led to the accumulation of nutraceutical phenolic compounds and improved the unsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio of the oil. In conclusion, 2-min He-Ne laser seed treatment could be the best strategy to improve the yield and nutritional value of sunflowers grown in water-limited areas.

Sulfur nanoparticles mediated improvement of salt tolerance in wheat relates to decreasing oxidative stress and regulating metabolic activity

Salinity is a critical issue impairing the growth and productivity of most crop species through the mediated ionic and osmotic imbalances. As a way forward, the current study was tailored to elucidate the capacity of sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) to amend salinity consequences on growth and physio-biochemical attributes of wheat. In a controlled experiment, wheat seeds were primed for 12 h with either 100 μM SNPs or deionized water then sown in plastic pots containing 5 kg clay-sand mixture (2:1 w/w). A week later, pots received NaCl (100 or 200 mM) as a sole treatment or in combination with SNPs and after three weeks the data of morph-bio-physiological traits were recorded. Salinity decreased growth rate, pigmentation, protein, amino acids, cysteine, ascorbate, flavonoids and phenolics content in wheat leaves. Plants pre-treated with 100 μM SNPs showed improved growth rate, pigmentation, nitrogen metabolism as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant contents as compared with salinized treatments. Neither salt nor SNP treatments affected photosynthetic performance rate (Fv/fm), however both treatments induced glutathione content. SNP treatment retrieved the undue excessive activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) besides the increased level of proline caused by salt stress. Likewise, 100 μM SNPs rebalanced the declined nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents and decreased sodium uptake caused by salinity. On the whole, priming with 100 μM SNPs improved photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen metabolism, antioxidant status and ionic relations contributing to the enhancement of growth attributes in wheat under salinity.

Effect of Extremely Low Power Time-Varying Electromagnetic Field on Germination and Other Characteristics in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica) Seeds

The ability of extremely low, time-varying electromagnetic field (EMF) to improve germination efficacy was studied in Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) seeds using response surface methodology. An optimal factorial central composite design was chosen to optimize the EMF with three critical factors, viz. frequency, intensity, and duration. The adequacy of the model and fitness was evaluated by analysis of variance and regression coefficients. This model suggested that the factors, frequency, and intensity had a significant impact on germination. Optimal conditions for germination were observed to be 10 Hz frequency, 30,007 nT intensity, and 30-min duration with an observed germination percentage of 93.0, and a predicted germination percentage of 92.92. Magneto-priming was found to increase the germination efficacy (15.66%), shoot length (27.78%), total seedling length (20.30%), seedling dry mass (26.49%), and water uptake (34.48% at 80 min) showing significant output when compared with the control and positive controls. Remarkable improvements were observed in germination parameters such as vigor index-1 (39.14%), vigor index-2 (46.28%), speed of germination (27.52%), and emergence index (12.50%). Magneto-priming was found to reduce the levels of germination-specific enzymes, viz. α-amylase, protease, and dehydrogenase, while it enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes, viz. catalase (114.63%) and superoxide dismutase (19.62%), triggering fast germination and early vigor of seedlings. This study clearly showed that EMF priming significantly improved the germination effect and other characteristics of Foxtail millet seeds. Bioelectromagnetics. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Impact of magnetically treated water on the growth and development of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Turkish)

Magnetism is one of the physical methods affecting water properties. It is considered as an environmental factor that plays a role in the physiological and biochemical reactions. A hydroponic experiment was conducted using four types of treated water (distilled water, magnetically treated distilled water, magnetically treated tap water, and tap water). Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum var. Turkish) were placed in a growth chamber for three weeks. Plants irrigated with magnetically treated distilled water had a significant increase in the physiological parameters including shoot height and root length (P < 0.0001). The same pattern was seen in the photosynthetic rate and protein content, but no significant differences in the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate (P < 0.5601). In contrast, a significant increase of total carbohydrate content was exhibited in plant irrigated with tap water (P < 0.0064). Electron micrographs showed deformed chloroplasts with damaged thylakoid membranes associated with plastoglobules in plants irrigated with tap water and magnetically treated tap water. Lastly, this study suggests that magnetically treated water is an excellent option to improve irrigation methods and thus obtains agricultural production with high efficiency.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced after forest fires improve germination and development of Eysenhardtia polystachya

Background

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are nanoparticles with countless applications. MWCNTs are typically of synthetic origin. However, recently, the formation of MWCNTs in nature after forest fires has been documented. Previous reports have demonstrated the positive effects of synthetic MWCNTs on the germination and development of species of agronomic interest; nevertheless, there is practically no information on how synthetic or natural MWCNTs affect forest plant development. In this report, based on insights from dose-response assays, we elucidate the comparative effects of synthetic MWCNTs, amorphous carbon, and natural MWCNTs obtained after a forest fire on Eysenhardtia polystachya plant.

Methods

E. polystachya seeds were sown in peat moss-agrolite substrate and conserved in a shade house. Germination was recorded daily up to 17 days after sowing, and plant development (manifested in shoot and root length, stem diameter, foliar area, and root architecture parameters) was recorded 60 days after sowing.

Results

The treatments with natural MWCNTs accelerated the emergence and improved the germination of this plant, thus while untreated seeds achieve 100% of germination within 16th day, seeds supplemented with natural MWCNTs at doses of 20 µg/mL achieve the above percentage within the 4th day. Natural MWCNTs also promoted fresh and dry biomass in all applied treatments, specially at doses of 40 µg/mL where natural MWCNTs significantly promoted leaf number, root growth, and the dry and fresh weights of shoots and roots of seedlings. Seeds supplemented with doses between 20 and 40 µg/mL of amorphous carbon achieving 100% of germination within the 6th day; however, seeds supplemented either with doses of 60 µg/mL of the above carbon or with synthetic MWCNTs at all the tested concentrations could achieve at most 80 % and 70% of germination respectively within the 17 days. Finally, neither treatments added with amorphous carbon nor those added with synthetic MWCNTs, showed significant increases in the fresh and dry biomass of the tested plant. Likewise, the survival of seedlings was reduced between 10 and 20 % with 40 and 60 µg/mL of amorphous carbon, and with synthetic MWCNTs in all the doses applied was reduced at 30% of survival plants.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that MWCNTs produced by wildfire act as plant growth promoters, contributing to the germination and development of adapted to fire-prone conditions species such as E. polystachya.

Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles and their Applications in Different Fields: A Review

Nanotechnology is an art for application and handling of materials at very small scales i.e. 1–100 nm. The materials at this scale exhibit significantly different properties compared to same materials at larger scales. There are so many physical and chemical methods for the synthesis of nanoscale materials but the most appropriate are the ones that synthesize materials using green chemistry eco-friendly techniques. Recently, the collaboration between nanotechnology and biology has opened up new horizons of nanobiotechnology that integrates the use of biological materials in a number of biochemical and biophysical processes. This approach has significantly boosted up nanoparticles (NPs) production without employing harsh and toxic conditions and chemicals. This review is aimed to provide an outline of latest developments in synthesis of NPs through biotic entities and their potential applications.

PRODUÇÃO DE MUDAS DE ALFACE EM RESPOSTA AO USO DE ÁGUA TRATADA MAGNETICAMENTE

Nos últimos anos tem sido crescente as pesquisas científicas de inovação e tecnologia agrícola a respeito da ação do campo magnético sob a germinação e desenvolvimento de plantas. Diante do exposto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento inicial de mudas de alface (Lactuca Sativa L.) com uso de água tratada magneticamente e não tratada (controle). O experimento foi realizado em bandejas de 120 células, sendo a parcela constituída por 12 células com 10 repetições, onde foram testados os tratamentos água tratada magneticamente e não tratada. Foram realizadas medições semanais de comprimento da parte aérea e quando as mudas atingiram 24 dias após germinadas, retirou-as das bandejas e avaliou-se os seguintes parâmetros: comprimento da parte aérea, massa seca da parte aérea, comprimento da raiz e massa seca da raiz. Nas condições de tempo de exposição e força do magnetizador, o uso da água magnetizada é benéfica para o alface e provavelmente para outras culturas. Em particular, para a alface, os resultados revelam que a irrigação com água tratada magneticamente é eficiente para obter-se mudas de alface com maior volume de biomassa na parte aérea e raiz.

Seed pretreatment with magnetic field alters the storage proteins and lipid profiles in harvested soybean seeds

The increase in crop productivity is an urgent need of the time to reduce scarcity of food in underdeveloped countries. Several biological, chemical and physical methods have been applied to promote crop yield. Application of magnetic field (MF) is an emerging physical method used to increase plant growth and yield. The reports on MF pretreatment-induced nutritional changes in harvested seeds are scarce. We previously identified the optimal frequency of MF to improve plant growth and yield as 1500 nT at 10.0 Hz. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of MF treatment on storage proteins and fatty acids in harvested soybean seeds. The results showed that MF triggered globulin production and suppressed prolamin production. However, lipid content in seeds increased, because MF exposure caused an elevation of several fatty acids including caprylic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, lignoceric acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. This is the first report to reveal the seed pretreated MF on nutritional values of harvested seeds. This study suggests that MF treatment improves seed quality by regulating the metabolism of storage proteins and fatty acids.