Efecto de la aplicación de un campo electromagnético sobre el contenido de proteínas solubles y carbohidratos de embriones cigóticos de Coffea arabica L. cultivados in vitro

Electromagnetic fields have been applied to increase plant growth and in vitro germination of coffee. Even though it is not clear yet the mechanisms developed during the interaction of electromagnetic fields and plant tissue. This study aimed to determine the effect of applying an electromagnetic field on the concentration of soluble proteins and carbohydrates of coffee zygotic embryos during in vitro establishment stage. After three days of embryos establishment the treatment was applied with 2ì T magnetic induction level and 60 Hz frequency for an exposure time of 3 minutes. An electromagnetic stimulator for in vitro cultures BioNaK-03 was used. Embryos free of electromagnetic treatment were used as controls. The content of protein and carbohydrates was determined after 6 weeks of culture. Results showed a significant increase in the concentrations of these compounds in treated embryos. The application of electromagnetic fields at this stage of culture could improved the quality of plants obtained from coffee zygotic embryos by changing the way of some physiological and biochemical processes. This leads to increase the vigour and ensure a better plant development at later stages.Key words: Caturra rojo, coffee, in vitro plantsLos campos electromagnéticos han sido aplicados para acelerar el crecimiento y germinación de plantas in vitro de cafeto, sin embargo aún no queda claro cuáles son los mecanismos que se desarrollan durante la interacción de los campos electromagnéticos y el tejido vegetal. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar el efecto de la aplicación de un campo electromagnético sobre la concentración de proteínas solubles y carbohidratos de embriones cigóticos de cafeto durante la fase de establecimiento in vitro. A los tres días de establecidos los embriones se aplicó el tratamiento magnético con nivel de inducción de 2μT y frecuencia de 60 Hz durante un tiempo de exposición de 3 minutos. Para ello se empleó un estimulador electromagnético para cultivos in vitro BioNaK-03. Como control se emplearon embriones que no recibieron tratamiento electromagnético. A las 6 semanas de cultivo se determinó el contenido de proteínas y carbohidratos. Los resultados mostraron un incremento significativo de las concentraciones de estos compuestos para los embriones tratados. La aplicación de campos electromagnéticos en esta fase de cultivo puede contribuir a mejorar la calidad de las plantas obtenidas de embriones cigóticos de cafeto al modificar el curso de algunos procesos fisiológicos y bioquímicos. Esto conllevaría a un aumento del vigor y aseguraría un mejor desarrollo de la planta en fases posteriores.Palabras clave: Caturra rojo, café, plantas in vitr

Volatile compounds from Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. Growing in southeast coast of Brazil

Chemical composition of leaf volatiles of Rosmarinus officinalis and Baccharis dracunculifolia cultured in Southeast of Brazil has been characterized by GC/MS after simultaneous distillation-extraction. The main components in volatiles of these species showed in common α-pinene, myrcene, 1,8 cineole and camphor. Camphor was the major component among volatiles of B. dracunculifolia and R. officinalis with concentrations exceeding 25%. B. dracunculifolia volatiles possessed more sesquiterpenes (21.4%) than R. officinalis (16.7%), such as caryophyllene (1.9%) and α-humulene (0.4%). Lower concentrations of nerolidol and spathulenol were achieved in volatiles of B. dracunculifolia. Considering both species, there was a predominance of monoterpenes

The Use of Static Magnetic Field on Irrigation Water and Its Effect on Mineral and Nutrient Content in <em>Solanum lycopersicum</em> L.

Solanum lycopersicum L. is a nutraceutical plant. Tomato yield and morphological features have been improved by irrigation with water treated with static magnetic field (SMF). The effect of magnetically treated water with SMF (20–200 mT) on mineral and nutritional contents in Solanum lycopersicum L. was investigated. Bromatological analyses and minerals contents were determined in tomato fruits harvested after the application of two irrigation protocols (water treated with SMF between 20 and 200 mT and water without SMF treatment as control). Fruits were selected for analysis according to a completely randomized design. Although no significant differences were observed between both groups with regard to bromatological analyses (moisture, total ash, total solids, proteins), an increasing trend was determined for these components in fruits of plants irrigated with SMF-treated water. An increase was detected for potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and cupper (Cu) concentrations in these conditions as compared to fruits of control plants. The SMF treatment of irrigation water improves the nutrient uptake and the water use efficiency in tomato. The nutraceutical value of these fruits was increase and can be considered as an important strategy for future crop production to improve food quality

Effect of an electromagnetic field application on the content of soluble proteins and carbohydrates in zygotic embryos of <em>Coffea arabica</em> L. <em>in vitro</em> cultured

Electromagnetic fields have been applied to increase plant growth and in vitro germination of coffee. Even though it is not clear yet the mechanisms developed during the interaction of electromagnetic fields and plant tissue. This study aimed to determine the effect of applying an electromagnetic field on the concentration of soluble proteins and carbohydrates of coffee zygotic embryos during in vitro establishment stage. After three days of embryos establishment the treatment was applied with 2ì T magnetic induction level and 60 Hz frequency for an exposure time of 3 minutes. An electromagnetic stimulator for in vitro cultures BioNaK-03 was used. Embryos free of electromagnetic treatment were used as controls. The content of protein and carbohydrates was determined after 6 weeks of culture. Results showed a significant increase in the concentrations of these compounds in treated embryos. The application of electromagnetic fields at this stage of culture could improved the quality of plants obtained from coffee zygotic embryos by changing the way of some physiological and biochemical processes. This leads to increase the vigour and ensure a better plant development at later stages. Key words: Caturra rojo, coffee, in vitro plant

Influence of magnetic field on the <i>in vitro</i> establishment of zygotic embryos of <i>Adenanthera pavinina</i> L.

The in vitro embryo culture for pre germinal treatment allows the application of low frequency electromagnetic and magnetic fields. The species Adenanthera pavonina L. has seeds with a waterproof integument, long latency period and scarce germination success. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of different electromagnetic fields in the disinfection and in vitro establishment of zygotic embryos of A. pavonina L. Disinfection and seed scarification were performed, with sulfuric acid (98%) and boric acid (5%). The seeds were subjected to three treatments: no magnetic field, static magnetic field of 95 mT and 2mT electromagnetic field at 60 Hz and exposure time of 72 hours. The sample size was 25 seeds for each treatment and experiments were conducted on triplicate. For the in vitro culture of embryos medium MS was used supplemented with coconut water as growth regulator. The evaluated variable was the germination percentage over a 30 days period. The results of the disinfection of the seeds in the establishing after the electromagnetic treatment showed no bacterial or fungal contamination. Scarification contributed to the hydrate and extraction of the embryos. A 87.3% germination was obtained in the treatment with electromagnetic field, 67.7% with the magnetic field and 28% germination on the control experiment. The work confirmed that the application of electromagnetic and magnetic fields can be used as pre-germination treatment in the forest species A. pavonina L. Key words: Electromagnetic field, embryos, forest species, pre germination, static magnetic fiel

Magnetically Treated Water in <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i> L.: An Alternative to Develop Organic Farming in Cuba

Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) significantly contributes to the human diet due to its protein, vitamin and mineral contents, making it one of the major edible plant species worldwide. Currently, the genetic resources conserved in germplasm banks in Cuba have experienced a loss of viability, which makes their propagation difficult. Magnetically treated water has been used to improve the response of seeds and plants of different species. However, there is little experimental evidence on the cultivation of the common bean irrigated with magnetically treated water or its positive effects on seed germination recovery and its effects on physiological, anatomical and morphological characteristics. This study aims to evaluate the growth and development of common bean with magnetically treated water as an alternative to rejuvenate the seeds for organic agriculture. A two-group experimental design was used: a group of plants irrigated with water without a magnetic field and a group of plants irrigated with water treated with a magnetic field at induction in the range of 100 to 150 mT. There was an increase of 25% in the percentage of germination; the stomatal anatomical structures behaved normally; and the stem length, vigor index, leaf area and seed weight increased by 35, 100, 109 and 16%, respectively. The concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b pigments and carbohydrates in the plants grown with magnetically treated water were also stimulated in relation to control plants with increments of 13, 21 and 26%, respectively. The technology employed in this study did not have negative effects on the plant nor did it affect the presence of structures or the net content of the assessed compounds. Its use in the cultivation of Phaseolus vulgaris L. might represent a viable alternative for the improvement of the plant in organic farming production