Bioelectromagnetics 22:194^199 (2001) Induction of Primary Root Curvature in Radish Seedlings in a Static Magnetic Field

• Main Authors: Eiko Hidaka, Kazuhiro Fujiwara, Mitsuo Iimoto
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: North Pole; South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.513.8582; http://www.roaringlionpublishing.com/tony_uploads/Magnetic_Plant_Stimulation.pdf

Primary roots of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings were exposed to an inhomogeneous static magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet, during continuous rotation on a 0.06 rpm clinostat, thereby reducing the unilateral influence of gravity. The roots responded tropically to the static magnetic field with the tropism appearing to be negative. These roots responded significantly (P< 0.05) to the south pole of the magnet. The significant tropic response was found for a magnetic flux density of 13–68 mT, for a field gradient of 1.8–14.7 T/m, and for the product of magnetic field and field gradient of 0.023–1.0 T2/m. A small, but insignificant, response of the roots to the north pole has also been found. Bioelectromagnetics 22:194–199, 2001. ß 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: permanent magnet; magnetic field gradient; root elongation; tropism; magneto-tropism