Seed Treatment with Electromagnetic Field Induces Different Effects on Emergence, Growth and Profiles of Biochemical Compounds in Seven Half-Sib Families of Silver Birch.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5775

Study snapshot

PublicationPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

In the context of climate change, strategies aimed at enhancing trees' resistance to biotic and abiotic stress are particularly relevant. We applied an electromagnetic field (EMF) seed treatment to observe changes in the establishment and content of biochemical compounds in silver birch seedlings induced by a short (1 min) seed exposure to a physical stressor. The impact of EMF treatment was evaluated on seedling emergence and growth of one-year-old and two-year-old seedlings from seven half-sib families of silver birch. The effects on numerous biochemical parameters in seedling leaves, such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), amounts of photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars (TSS), level of lipid peroxidation level, antioxidant activity and activity of antioxidant enzymes, were compared using spectrophotometric methods. The results indicated that, in one-year-old seedlings, two of seven (60th and 73rd) half-sib families exhibited a positive response to seed treatment with EMFs in nearly all analyzed parameters. For example, in the 60th family, seed treatment with EMFs increased the percentage of emergence by 3 times, one-year-old seedling height by 71%, leaf TPC by 47%, antioxidant activity by 2 times and amount of chlorophyll a by 4.6 times. Meanwhile, the other two (86th and 179th) families exhibited a more obvious positive response to EMF in two-year-old seedlings as compared to one-year-old seedling controls. The results revealed that short-term EMF treatment of silver birch seeds can potentially be used to improve seedling emergence and growth and increase the content of secondary metabolites, antioxidant capacity and photosynthetic pigments. Understanding of the impact of EMFs as well as the influence of genetic differences on tree responses can be significant for practical applications in forestry. Genetic selection of plant genotypes that exhibit positive response trends can open the way to improve the quality of forest stands.

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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 typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationSilver birch (Betula pendula) seedlings from seven half-sib families

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposure1 min

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

A 1 min EMF seed treatment was associated with improved emergence, growth, and multiple biochemical parameters in some half-sib families of silver birch seedlings. Two of seven families showed positive responses in nearly all analyzed parameters in one-year-old seedlings (e.g., in the 60th family: emergence increased 3-fold, height +71%, leaf TPC +47%, antioxidant activity 2-fold, chlorophyll a 4.6-fold), while two other families showed more obvious positive responses in two-year-old seedlings than in one-year-old controls.

Outcomes measured

Seedling emergence
Seedling growth (height) in one-year-old and two-year-old seedlings
Total phenolic content (TPC)
Total flavonoid content (TFC)
Photosynthetic pigments (including chlorophyll a)
Total soluble sugars (TSS)
Lipid peroxidation level
Antioxidant activity
Activity of antioxidant enzymes

Limitations

EMF exposure characteristics (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract
Sample size not reported in the abstract
Effects varied by genetic family and seedling age, suggesting heterogeneity of response

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "seed treatment",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 min"
  },
  "population": "Silver birch (Betula pendula) seedlings from seven half-sib families",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Seedling emergence",
    "Seedling growth (height) in one-year-old and two-year-old seedlings",
    "Total phenolic content (TPC)",
    "Total flavonoid content (TFC)",
    "Photosynthetic pigments (including chlorophyll a)",
    "Total soluble sugars (TSS)",
    "Lipid peroxidation level",
    "Antioxidant activity",
    "Activity of antioxidant enzymes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "A 1 min EMF seed treatment was associated with improved emergence, growth, and multiple biochemical parameters in some half-sib families of silver birch seedlings. Two of seven families showed positive responses in nearly all analyzed parameters in one-year-old seedlings (e.g., in the 60th family: emergence increased 3-fold, height +71%, leaf TPC +47%, antioxidant activity 2-fold, chlorophyll a 4.6-fold), while two other families showed more obvious positive responses in two-year-old seedlings than in one-year-old controls.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "EMF exposure characteristics (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Effects varied by genetic family and seedling age, suggesting heterogeneity of response"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic field",
    "seed treatment",
    "silver birch",
    "Betula pendula",
    "seedling emergence",
    "growth",
    "half-sib families",
    "phenolics",
    "flavonoids",
    "photosynthetic pigments",
    "chlorophyll a",
    "antioxidant activity",
    "lipid peroxidation",
    "total soluble sugars"
  ],
  "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: 10.3390/plants12173048
PubMed: 37687295

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