Treatment of Common Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) Seeds with Radio-frequency Electromagnetic Field and Cold Plasma Induces Changes in Seed Phytohormone Balance, Seedling Development and Leaf Protein Expression.

Scientific reports · 2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5589

Study snapshot

PublicationScientific reports · 2019

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Treatment of plant seeds with electromagnetic fields or non-thermal plasmas aims to take advantage of plant functional plasticity towards stimulation of plant agricultural performance. In this study, the effects of pre-sowing seed treatment using 200 Pa vacuum (7 min), 5.28 MHz radio-frequency cold plasma (CP -2, 5, and 7 min) and electromagnetic field (EMF -5, 10, 15 min) on seed germination kinetics, content of phytohormones, morphometric parameters of seedlings and leaf proteome were assessed. CP 7 min and EMF 15 min treatments caused 19-24% faster germination in vitro; germination in the substrate was accelerated by vacuum (9%) and EMF 15 min (17%). The stressors did not change the seed germination percentage, with exception of EMF 5 min treatment that caused a decrease by 7.5%. Meanwhile both CP 7 min and EMF 15 min treatments stimulated germination, but the EMF treatment resulted in higher weight of leaves. Stressor-specific changes in phytohormone balance were detected in seeds: vacuum treatment decreased zeatin amount by 39%; CP treatments substantially increased gibberellin content, but other effects strongly varied with the treatment duration; the abscisic acid content was reduced by 55-60% after the EMF treatment. Analysis of the proteome showed that short exposure of seeds to the EMF or CP induced a similar long-term effect on gene expression in leaves, mostly stimulating expression of proteins involved in photosynthetic processes and their regulation.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionmixed

PopulationCommon sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) seeds/seedlings

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 5.28 MHz · Cold plasma: 2, 5, 7 min; EMF: 5, 10, 15 min; vacuum: 7 min

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Pre-sowing treatments with 5.28 MHz radio-frequency cold plasma and EMF altered germination kinetics, phytohormone balance, seedling development, and leaf protein expression. CP 7 min and EMF 15 min accelerated in vitro germination by 19–24%, and EMF 15 min accelerated germination in substrate by 17%; germination percentage was generally unchanged except EMF 5 min, which decreased it by 7.5%. EMF treatment reduced abscisic acid by 55–60%, and proteome analysis indicated increased expression of proteins involved in photosynthetic processes and regulation after short EMF or CP exposure.

Outcomes measured

Seed germination kinetics (in vitro and in substrate)
Seed germination percentage
Seed phytohormone content/balance (e.g., zeatin, gibberellin, abscisic acid)
Seedling morphometric parameters (including leaf weight)
Leaf proteome/protein expression (photosynthesis-related proteins)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the abstract
Exposure characterization beyond frequency and duration (e.g., field strength, dosimetry) not provided in the abstract
Multiple interventions (vacuum, cold plasma, EMF) and multiple durations complicate attribution to a single exposure condition

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": 5.28,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Cold plasma: 2, 5, 7 min; EMF: 5, 10, 15 min; vacuum: 7 min"
  },
  "population": "Common sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) seeds/seedlings",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Seed germination kinetics (in vitro and in substrate)",
    "Seed germination percentage",
    "Seed phytohormone content/balance (e.g., zeatin, gibberellin, abscisic acid)",
    "Seedling morphometric parameters (including leaf weight)",
    "Leaf proteome/protein expression (photosynthesis-related proteins)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Pre-sowing treatments with 5.28 MHz radio-frequency cold plasma and EMF altered germination kinetics, phytohormone balance, seedling development, and leaf protein expression. CP 7 min and EMF 15 min accelerated in vitro germination by 19–24%, and EMF 15 min accelerated germination in substrate by 17%; germination percentage was generally unchanged except EMF 5 min, which decreased it by 7.5%. EMF treatment reduced abscisic acid by 55–60%, and proteome analysis indicated increased expression of proteins involved in photosynthetic processes and regulation after short EMF or CP exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Exposure characterization beyond frequency and duration (e.g., field strength, dosimetry) not provided in the abstract",
    "Multiple interventions (vacuum, cold plasma, EMF) and multiple durations complicate attribution to a single exposure condition"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Helianthus annuus",
    "seed treatment",
    "radio-frequency",
    "5.28 MHz",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "cold plasma",
    "germination",
    "phytohormones",
    "abscisic acid",
    "gibberellin",
    "zeatin",
    "proteomics",
    "photosynthesis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42893-5
PubMed: 31015543

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