Novel Magnetic Field System: Application to Micropropagation of Horticultural Plants

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to create a new magnetic field (MF) system which is simple, safe, easy to set up and saves space in a tissue culture room or greenhouse. We tested this MF system to study the effects of three different MF intensities (0.1 Tesla (T), 0.15 T and 0.2 T) combined with two polarities (North (N) and South (S) pole) on the proliferation of Phalaenopsis Gallant Beau ‘George Vazquez’ protocorm-like bodies (PLBs). Control explants that were not exposed to MFs tended to become necrotic, while The 0.2 T-N pole MF combination significantly increased the fresh and dry weights of PLB clusters, more than the observed for the controls and other treatments.

Keywords:

• micropropagation
• Phalaenopsis
• magnetic field
• protocorm-like body