The Efficacy of Ultramolecular Aqueous Dilutions on a Wheat Germination Model as a Function of Heat and Aging-Time

This study evaluates the effects of temperature and aging on the efficacy of As2O3 at the 45th decimal potency in a wheat germination model, compared against a control and potentized H2O 45×. Each treatment-temperature combination was tested on seeds (Triticum aestivum L.) of Pandas variety, using six Petri dishes (33 seeds/dish) per trial, performing eight trials. Seeds were pre-treated by poisoning with 0.1% As2O3 solution to reduce germination, to allow a better evaluation of homeopathic treatment effects. The outcome variable was the number of non-germinated seeds after 96 h. Temperature effect was investigated by heating each treatment in a water bath for 30 min (at 20, 40 or 70°C), or for 5 min (at 100°C), and that of aging by dividing experimental data, collected over a period of nearly five months, into two groups: early and late experiments. Results seem to show that the efficacy of As2O3 45× is unaltered at 20 and 40°C, increases at 70°C and decreases at 100°C. As regards aging, a notable difference was found between early trials, with no significant efficacy, and late trials, where As2O3 45× exhibits a repeated significant effect versus control, except at 100°C. A reduction in variability was observed for As2O3 45× at 20°C versus control, confirming the findings of previous work. The main conclusion suggested by this experiment is that the efficacy of As2O3 45× on wheat germination may be influenced by heating degree and seems to have an increasing trend as a function of aging

ultra high diluted arsenic reduces spore germination of alternaria brassicicola and dark leaf spot in cauliflower

ABSTRACT A major problem in cauliflower crop is the fungus Alternaria brassicicola, which causes dark leaf spot on Brassicaceae family. The current use of copper salts in agriculture is questioned. In fact, these products present some disadvantages, connected mainly with their deposits in the soil and toxicity on plants. This work investigated the effects of arsenic treatments, in ultra high diluted form (UHD), prepared by a process of repeated dilution and succussion (shaking), through: 1) in vitro germination experiments, where spores of A. brassicicola were suspended in the treatments; 2) in planta experiments and 3) a field trial, where cauliflower plants infected by the fungus were sprayed with treatments. The results showed that ultra high dilutions of arsenic (where no more molecules of this substance are present) were effective in all the experiments, inhibiting spore germination by 60.0%, controlling fungal disease in in planta experiments (relative efficacy of 42.1%), and, in field trial, decreasing the mean infection level in cauliflower heads by 45.7% and 41.6% in artificially inoculated and naturally infected plants, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate that ultra high dilutions effectively reduce in vitro spore germination and infection of A. brassicicola in cauliflower plants, both under controlled conditions and in the field. Our research is still very experimental, however, in light of the significant results obtained with ultra-diluted arsenic, and given that its extreme high dilution level precludes any toxicity or accumulation in the environment, the use of UHDs could be considered a potential and reliable approach for sustainable agriculture

Ultra high diluted arsenic reduces spore germination of Alternaria brassicicola and dark leaf spot in cauliflower

ABSTRACT A major problem in cauliflower crop is the fungus Alternaria brassicicola, which causes dark leaf spot on Brassicaceae family. The current use of copper salts in agriculture is questioned. In fact, these products present some disadvantages, connected mainly with their deposits in the soil and toxicity on plants. This work investigated the effects of arsenic treatments, in ultra high diluted form (UHD), prepared by a process of repeated dilution and succussion (shaking), through: 1) in vitro germination experiments, where spores of A. brassicicola were suspended in the treatments; 2) in planta experiments and 3) a field trial, where cauliflower plants infected by the fungus were sprayed with treatments. The results showed that ultra high dilutions of arsenic (where no more molecules of this substance are present) were effective in all the experiments, inhibiting spore germination by 60.0%, controlling fungal disease in in planta experiments (relative efficacy of 42.1%), and, in field trial, decreasing the mean infection level in cauliflower heads by 45.7% and 41.6% in artificially inoculated and naturally infected plants, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate that ultra high dilutions effectively reduce in vitro spore germination and infection of A. brassicicola in cauliflower plants, both under controlled conditions and in the field. Our research is still very experimental, however, in light of the significant results obtained with ultra-diluted arsenic, and given that its extreme high dilution level precludes any toxicity or accumulation in the environment, the use of UHDs could be considered a potential and reliable approach for sustainable agriculture

Effects of homeopathic and mineral treatments on dark leaf spot caused by Alternaria brassicicola on cauliflower

This research aimed at verifying the efficacy of some homeopathic and mineral treatments on Alternaria brassicicola/cauliflower interaction. Growth chamber experiments and a field trial were performed, using Brassica plants artificially inoculated with the fungus. In growth chamber experiments, infection was significantly reduced by arsenic trioxide 35 decimal potency (As2O3 35 d) and in field trial by both As2O3 35 d and bentonite treatments

Highly diluted arsenic affects plant resistance to pathogens and nutraceutical properties

In recent decades intensive agriculture posed severe environmental problems with detrimental consequences on human health. For this reason, in recent years there has been a spread of environmentally and economically sound agricultural methods. Among these, organic production systems are now under widespread development. In this context homeopathic preparations, due to their extreme dilutions, could be suitable for use in organic agriculture. The present work is aimed at evaluating the effects of highly diluted arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on three plant models: 1) Tobacco plants carrying the TMV resistance gene N inoculated by tobacco mosaic virus (TMV); 2) Cauliflower inoculated by the fungus Alternaria brassicicola; 3) In vitro bean germination 1) In this model , As2O3 treatment was chosen on the basis of the hypersensitive-like reaction (necrotic spots) induced by As2O3 in phytotoxic concentration on healthy tobacco leaves .The experimental set-up consisted in a blind, randomized scheme using tobacco leaf disks. TMV inoculated leaf disks were floated for 3 days in the homeopathic treatments and in control (distilled water). The working variable was the area and the number of hypersensitive lesions per disk evaluated 3 days after virus inoculation. Results showed that 5 and 45 decimal potencies of arsenic induced significant reductions of area and number of necrotic lesions vs. control. 2) In cauliflower/Alternaria brassicicola model, growth chamber (i) and field (ii) experiments were performed: (i) As2O3 35 dH (As) , As diluted 1:5000 and a bentonite treatment (10 g/l) were compared with copper oxicloride (Cu) at 0.3, 1, and 3 g/l, and f-aminobutyric acid (BABA, 5 mM), the control being water; (ii) the field was divided in plots (6 plants/treatment), each treatment being replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were sprayed weekly on the leaves before and after artificial fungal inoculation. Results of (i) confirmed the significant effect in disease control of As (infection level reduction vs. control of about 40%); Cu and BABA significantly reduced disease severity. In (ii), disease assessments on cauliflower heads showed a similar and significant reduction of disease symptoms for As, bentonite and Cu 3 g/l, with a relative efficacy vs. control of 46%, 42%, 45%, respectively. Moreover, As treatments induced an increase of total glucosinolate content in healthy cauliflower heads. 3) In vitro bean germination experiments are still in progress: the aim is to verify the effects of highly diluted treatments on germination percentage and rate; moreover, an evaluation of nutraceutical properties (phytoestrogens and melatonin content) will be performed

La ricerca di base pu\uf2 fornire gli strumenti per la comprensione e lo sviluppo dell'omeopatia

A ventiquattro anni di distanza dall\u2019acceso dibattito suscitato dalla pubblicazione dei risultati ottenuti dal gruppo di ricerca di Benveniste e nonostante la grande quantit\ue0 di articoli scientifici apparsi su riviste internazionali, l\u2019idea che le \u201cultra-low doses\u201d e le alte diluizioni (HD), tra cui i medicinali omeopatici, possano evidenziare un\u2019attivit\ue0 biologica e farmacologica rimane tuttora \u201cincredibile\u201d per la cosiddetta scienza accademica. Tale scetticismo, che non tiene in considerazione la sempre maggiore diffusione della pratica omeopatica e l\u2019alto livello di soddisfazione dei pazienti, si basa essenzialmente sul fatto che le HD sono soggette ad un processo di diluizione seriale che porta a bassissimi livelli, spesso non misurabili, del principio attivo. Bench\ue9 il meccanismo d\u2019azione non sia stato ancora del tutto chiarito, le conoscenze su questo argomento \u201cdi frontiera\u201d vanno rapidamente consolidandosi, con notevoli implicazioni non solo per la farmacologia, ma anche per la biologia, la fisica e le scienze agrarie ed ambientali. Il XXVI convegno annuale del GIRI (Gruppo Internazionale di Ricerca sull\u2019Infinitesimale), svoltosi a Firenze il 20-22 settembre nel contesto dell\u2019ECIM 2012 (5\ub0 Congresso Europeo di Medicina Integrata), \ue8 stato organizzato dai nostri gruppi di ricerca dell\u2019Universit\ue0 di Bologna e Verona. Tale congresso ha documentato questo avanzamento delle conoscenze con la presentazione di un nutrito numero di relazioni, tutte di elevata qualit\ue0 scientifica, di cui alcune particolarmente significative sono compendiate in questa breve rassegna. Il programma del convegno \ue8 stato organizzato attorno a quattro assi principali: 1) caratteristiche fisico-chimiche delle HD e ruolo della dinamizzazione, 2) omeopatia e piante: studi in vitro, in planta ed in campo, 3) studi osservazionali ed evidenze cliniche e veterinarie, 4) modelli di laboratorio

Basic research in homeopathy and ultra-high dilutions: what progress is being made?

This report summarises the latest research developments in the field of high dilutions and homeopathy, as presented at the GIRI symposium of the leading international organisation of scientists in this field, in Florence, Italy in September 2012. The scientific community's early scepticism concerning the possible biological and pharmacological activity of highly diluted solutions, is\ua0giving way to a more open-minded attitude that no longer obstructs critical and experimental\ua0investigations in this emerging field of biomedicine

Evaluation of Equisetum arvense (Horsetail Macerate) as a Copper Substitute for Pathogen Management in Field-Grown Organic Tomato and Durum Wheat Cultivations

Effective pathogen management, as an aspect of agroecological crop protection (ACP) necessitates the replacement of copper (Cu) fungicides, but there is little knowledge relating to the performance of potentially suitable alternatives in large-scale, open-field agricultural settings. The present study was aimed at investigating the potential of Equisetum arvense (horsetail macerate) compared to Cu-based treatments for the control of Solanum lycopersicum. and Triticum turgidum ssp. durum fungal pathogens in established organic commercial farms located in Emilia Romagna (Italy) over a three-year period (2017–2019). Both the Cu-based and horsetail foliar sprays were routinely applied as preventative treatments and in the event of pathogen establishment as curative treatments. The Cu-based and horsetail macerate treatments were both equally effective at significantly reducing Phytophthora infestans (late blight) and increasing yield in tomato compared to the untreated control. For durum wheat, the horsetail macerate and Cu-based treatments were successful at significantly reducing Puccinia triticina (brown rust) infection and increasing yield under moderate infection, but unsuccessful under unfavorable meteorological conditions resulting in the combined and severe spread of Puccinia triticina, Fusarium graminearum, and Zymoseptoria tritici. From the present results, horsetail macerate is a promising and suitable Cu-free ACP alternative for late blight management of tomato

A Review of Three Simple Plant Models and Corresponding Statistical Tools for Basic Research in Homeopathy

In this paper, we review three simple plant models (wheat seed germination, wheat seedling growth, and infected tobacco plants) that we set up during a series of experiments carried out from 1991 to 2009 in order to study the effects of homeopathic treatments. We will also describe the set of statistical tools applied in the different models. The homeopathic treatment used in our experiments was arsenic trioxide (As2O3) diluted in a decimal scale and dynamized. Since the most significant results were achieved with the 45th decimal potency, both for As2O3 (As 45x) and water (W 45x), we here report a brief summary of these results. The statistical analysis was performed by using parametric and nonparametric tests, and Poisson distribution had an essential role when dealing with germination experiments. Finally, we will describe some results related to the changes in variability, which seems to be one of the targets of homeopathic treatment effect