Influence of frequent magnetic field on chlorophyll content in leaves of sugar beet plants

Abstract

Green plants are the only living organisms on the Earth, which could use the sun light as an energy source. Plants use the sun light for changing inorganic molecules: CO2 and H2O into carbohydrates, fundamental food compounds for plants and animals. This process, named photosynthesis, is possible because of the presence in plants of the specific green pigment – chlorophyll. Chlorophyll content has a basic importance for plant productivity, the most important issue for farmers. Low chlorophyll content, below 2 mg/dm of leaf surface, causes insufficient absorption of the sun light and low plant productivity. About 3 mg of chlorophyll/dm of leaf surface ensures the optimal (95−97%) consumption of sun light absorbed by plants. Chlorophyll content is correlated with nitrogen content in plants and the gathering from soil of nitrogen, and other macroand microelements important for plant metabolism. This is also correlated with the content of low-molecular proteins, mainly enzymes [11]. Thus chlorophyll content is a marker of plant health and productivity and helps to elaborate proper fertilization. In the case of nitrogen and microelement deficiency, productivity of plants decreased. Scientists try to help farmers to get the highest and best quality yield. Plants grown from conditioned seeds produce a high and good quality yield. One of the methods of seed improvement is the treatment with a frequent magnetic field. Plants grown from such treated seeds also produced a higher yield [5, 7]. It was interesting to know if their chlorophyll content was also higher. In the past, when the only method for the examination of chlorophyll content was chemical analysis destroying plants, it was difficult to determine this parameter in a single plant during the vegetation season. Influence of frequent magnetic field on chlorophyll content in leaves of sugar beet plants Malgorzata Rochalska