Influence of ELF Sinusoidal Electromagnetic Fields on Proliferation and Metabolite Yield of Fungi

Abstract

The response of mycelium proliferation in 12 strains of fungi were tested by sinusoidal ELF 50 Hz electromagnetic field treatment in the range B = 0.6–10 mT over 10 days.

The ratio of experiment/control indicated three types of proliferation changes: a) no significant change, b) a strong decrease down to E/C = 0.2, c) a maximization of mycelium diameter by treatment at 5–7 mT.

According to these results, effects can be produced noninvasively by varying either magnetic intensities or time of treatment. As yet, systematic bioelectromagnetic research using sinusoidal electromagnetic fields (SEMF)-on fermentation of fungi is still in its initial stages.

Keywords:

• ELF-SEMF effects
• Fungi
• Mycelium proliferation
• Surface culture