Diamagnetic Susceptibility and Root Growth Responses to Magnetic Fields in Lens culinaris,

We studied the response of root growth to different magnetic fields and forces. We submitted the seeds of three plant species, Lens culinaris L., Glycine soja Siebold & Zucc., and Triticum aestivum L., which differ in concentrations of paramagnetic (e.g., Fe or Co) and diamagnetic materials (e.g., starchy amyloplasts), to different static magnetic fields and forces. A magnetic field of 176G reduced root growth of L. culinaris, G. soja, and T. aestivum, 37, 31, and 15%, respectively. A weaker magnetic field of 21G reduced root growth of L. culinaris and G. soja only 13 and 21%, respectively, whereas it had no significant effect on the cereal T. aestivum. The germinating seeds of L. culinaris and G. soja were less diamagnetic than T. aestivum, and the latter had a smaller paramagnetic component. Since at room temperature, the paramagneti