MAGNETIC FIELD AS A GROWTH ENHANCER: EVALUATING ITS POSITIVE IMPACTS ON AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF MING ARALIA (Polyscias fruticosa)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18173/2354-1059.2025-0011Keywords:
magnetic field, Ming Aralia, hydroponic, root, leafAbstract
This study investigated the effects of a magnetic field (MF) on agronomical and physiological characteristics of Ming aralia (Polyscias fruticosa) under hydroponic conditions. The evaluation focused on key root-related traits including root length, root hair density, fresh biomass, and dry biomass, as well as leaf-related traits such as leaf area, chlorophyll content, fresh and dry leaf biomass. Results revealed that MF exposure significantly enhanced root development, with treated plants showing a 21.5% increase in root length, a 48.2% improvement in root hair density, 24.8% and 36% higher fresh and dry root biomass, respectively, compared to the control group at day 50 of treatment. Similarly, leaf traits exhibited substantial improvements with MF treatment including a 20.2% increase in leaf area and a 20.4% enhancement in chlorophyll content by the end of the experiment. Fresh and dry leaf biomass of the treated group were also 25.2% and 28.1% higher, respectively, than those of the control group. These findings suggested that MF act as a biophysical stimulus, enhancing both morphological and physiological aspects of plant growth, likely by improving water and nutrient absorption, photosynthetic efficiency, and metabolic processes. The study highlights the potential of MF as a sustainable and effective tool to optimize plant development and productivity in controlled cultivation systems.
References
[1] Kang JS, Giang VNL, Park HS, Park YS, Cho W, Nguyen VB, Shim H, Waminal NE, Park JY, Kim HH & Yang TJ, (2023). Evolution of the Araliaceae family involved rapid diversification of the Asian palmate group and hydrocotyle specific mutational pressure. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 22325.
[2] Ashmawy NS, Gad HA, Ashour ML, El-Ahmady SH & Singab ANB, (2020). The genus Polyscias (Araliaceae): A phytochemical and biological review. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 23(1), 100377.
[3] Thu Hien NT, Dieu Thuan NT, Van Huyen P, Anh Hong TT & Toan Phan NH, (2018). Flavonoids from the leaves of Aralia dasyphylla Miq. (Araliaceae). Vietnam Journal of Chemistry, 56(6), 695-699.
[4] Yan M, Sun Y, Ding L, Sun J, Song J, Zhou W & Pei L, (2022). Three new triterpenoid saponins from Aralia echinocaulis. Chinese Herbal Medicines, 14(2), 337-341.
[5] Pandya D, Mankad A & Pandya H, (2022). Cost effective micropropagation of Polyscias fruicosa (L.) Harm. International Association of Biologicals and computational Digest, 3(2), 39-46.
[6] Lutomski J, Luan TC & Hoa TT, (1992). Polyacetylenes in the Araliaceae family. Part IV. Herba Polonica, 3(38), 137-140.
[7] Sarraf M, Kataria S, Taimourya H, Santos LO, Menegatti RD, Jain M, Ihtisham M & Liu S, (2020). Magnetic field (MF) applications in plants: An overview. Plants, 9(9), 1139.
[8] Maffei ME, (2014). Magnetic field effects on plant growth, development, and evolution. Frontiers in Plant Science, 5(1), 445-445.
[9] da Silva JA & Dobránszki J, (2016). Magnetic fields: how is plant growth and development impacted? Protoplasma, 253(2), 231-248.
[10] Radhakrishnan R & Ranjitha Kumari BD, (2012). Pulsed magnetic field: a contemporary approach offers to enhance plant growth and yield of soybean. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 51(1), 139-144.
[11] Sharma VP, Singh HP, Batish DR & Kohli RK, (2010). Cell phone radiations affect early growth of Vigna radiata (mung bean) through biochemical alterations. Journal of Biosciences, 65(1-2), 66-72.
[12] Atak Ç, Çelik Ö, Olgun A, Alikamanoğlu S & Rzakoulieva A, (2007). Effect of magnetic field on peroxidase activities of soybean tissue culture. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 21(2), 166-171.
[13] Sen A & Alikamanoglu S, (2014). Effects of static magnetic field pretreatment with and without PEG 6000 or NaCl exposure on wheat biochemical parameters. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, 61(5), 646-655.
[14] De Souza A, Garci D, Sueiro L, Gilart F, Porras E & Licea L, (2006). Pre-sowing magnetic treatments of tomato seeds increase the growth and yield of plants. Bioelectromagnetics, 27(4), 247-257.
[15] Javed N, Ashraf M, Akram NA & Al-Qurainy F, (2011). Alleviation of adverse effects of drought stress on growth and some potential physiological attributes in maize (Zea mays L.) by seed electromagnetic treatment. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 87(6), 1354-1362.
[16] Carbonell MV, Martinez E & Amaya JM, (2009). Stimulation of germination in rice (Oryza sativa) by a static magnetic field. Electro- and Magnetobiology, 19(1), 121-128.
[17] Chowdhury M, Samarakoon UC & Altland JE, (2024). Evaluation of hydroponic systems for organic lettuce production in controlled environment. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15(1), 1401089.
[18] Loffing F, (2022). Raw data visualization for common factorial designs using SPSS: A syntax collection and tutorial. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(1), 808469.
[19] Vashisth A & Nagarajan S, (2008). Exposure of seeds to static magnetic field enhances germination and early growth characteristics in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Bioelectromagnetics, 29(7), 571-578.
[20] Novitskaya GV, Molokanov DR, Kocheshkova TK & Novitskii YI, (2010). Effect of weak constant magnetic field on the composition and content of lipids in radish seedlings at various temperatures. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, 57(1), 52-61.
[21] Sukhov V, Sukhova E, Sinitsyna Y, Gromova E, Mshenskaya N, Ryabkova A, Lin N, Vodeneev V, Маreev E & Price C, (2021). Influence of magnetic field with Schumann resonance frequencies on photosynthetic light reactions in wheat and pea. Cells, 10(1), 149.
[22] Flórez M, Carbonell MV & Martínez E, (2007). Exposure of maize seeds to stationary magnetic fields: Effects on germination and early growth. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 59(1), 68-75.
[23] Michalak I, Lewandowska S, Niemczyk K, Detyna J, Bujak H, Arik P & Bartniczak A, (2019). Germination of soybean seeds exposed to the static/alternating magnetic field and algal extract. Engineering in Life Sciences, 19(12), 986-999.
