To investigate the possible effect of exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields on growth and antioxidative enzymes in in vitro (micropropagation) coffee seedlings and subsequent development of these seedlings.
Coffee is an important commercial product. Micrpropagation presents an in vitro culture system to generate high quality coffee seedlings. After a six weeks establishment phase in a culture medium, the plants reach a multiplication phase usually having three pairs of leaves and a primary root at the end. Afterwards, in the acclimatization phase, plants are transferred to a pot with soil.
Seedlings were exposed or sham exposed either during establishment, multiplication, or acclimatization for 3 minutes. For each experimental group (exposure and sham exposure, respectively), 50 samples were used per replicate and 3 replicates for all phases. Seedlings were examined at the end of the each phase or 4 month after the acclimatization phase,
| Exposure | Parameters |
|---|---|
|
Exposure 1:
60 Hz
Exposure duration:
3 minutes
|
|
| Frequency | 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Exposure duration | 3 minutes |
| Exposure source | |
|---|---|
| Setup | samples were placed in a dielectric container and placed in the homogeneous magnetic field at the end and center of the solenoid; a 40 cm long magnetizer solenoid was used, consisting of a 16-gauge copper wire (1.1 mm) with a total of 363 turns |
| Measurand | Value | Type | Method | Mass | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| magnetic flux density | 2 mT | - | - | - | - |
In exposed seedlings, the shoot and root lengths as well as leaf pair numbers were significantly increased during establishment, multiplication, or acclimatization phase and 4 month after acclimatization in comparison to seedlings from the control group. Magnetic field treatment resulted in a significant decrease of the enzyme activity of the catalase during establishment, multiplication and acclimatization, of the superoxide dismutase during acclimatization and of the ascorbate peroxidase during multiplication, acclimatization and in the 4 month old seedling compared to the corresponding control group. However, the enzyme activity of the catalase was significantly increased in the exposed 4 month old seedlings compared to the 4 month old control seedlings.
The authors conclude that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields could influence antioxidative enzymes in in vitro (micropropagation) coffee seedlings and could have a promoting effect on growth and development.
This website uses cookies to provide you the best browsing experience. By continuing to use this website you accept our use of cookies.
