Electromagnetic Stimulation of Buds of Castanea Sativa Mill. In Tissue Culture

Abstract

Buds of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) were grown on modified Heller's solid material medium with the addition of 0.1 mg/mL 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP). They were divided monthly and used for experiments with homogeneous sinusoidal magnetic fields of 5.9, 3.2, and 1.2 mT for 1 h/day, 6 days a week, for 28 weeks.

The results are season-dependent; bud growth was significantly enhanced over controls in early summer (50% at 5.0 mT, 64% at 3.2 mT, and 62% at 1.2 mT). In late summer and fall, growth was inhibited slightly. In early winter, it was stimulated again. We also measured significant effects 1 month after cessation of stimulation.