6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.

Near-Null Magnetic Field Suppresses Fruit Growth in Arabidopsis

Bioeffects Seen

Xu C, Feng S, Yu Y, Zhang Y, Wei S · 2021

Share:

A near-null magnetic field suppressed fruit growth in wild-type Arabidopsis but not in cry1/cry2 mutants, and this suppression was mediated by cryptochrome with involvement of gibberellins.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers grew wild-type Arabidopsis and cry1/cry2 double mutants in a near-null magnetic field under blue light to test the role of cryptochrome in fruit growth. Fruit growth was suppressed in wild-type plants but not in the cry1/cry2 mutants under the near-null magnetic field. Gibberellin levels (GA4, GA9, GA34, GA51) were significantly lower in wild-type fruits under near-null magnetic field compared to geomagnetic controls, but unchanged in mutants. Expression of GA20ox and GA3ox genes was downregulated in wild-type fruits but not in mutants, while GA2ox and GA signaling genes were unaffected.

Why This Matters

The study built on a previous finding that a near-null magnetic field affected reproductive growth in Arabidopsis under white light. The authors concluded that cryptochrome mediates the suppression of fruit growth by a near-null magnetic field and that gibberellins are involved in this regulation.

Cite This Study
Xu C, Feng S, Yu Y, Zhang Y, Wei S (2021). Near-Null Magnetic Field Suppresses Fruit Growth in Arabidopsis.
Show BibTeX
@article{xu_c_feng_s_yu_y_zhang_y_wei_s_ce4264,
  author = {Xu C and Feng S and Yu Y and Zhang Y and Wei S},
  title = {Near-Null Magnetic Field Suppresses Fruit Growth in Arabidopsis},
  year = {2021},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Fruit growth of wild-type Arabidopsis was suppressed by the near-null magnetic field.
Fruit growth of the cry1/cry2 mutant was not suppressed by the near-null magnetic field.
Levels of GA4, GA9, GA34, and GA51 were significantly lower in wild-type fruits under near-null magnetic field compared to geomagnetic controls.
In cry1/cry2 mutants, levels of the four detected gibberellins did not differ significantly from controls under near-null magnetic field.
Expression of GA20ox genes (GA20ox1 and GA20ox2) and GA3ox genes (GA3ox1 and GA3ox3) was downregulated in wild-type fruits under near-null magnetic field.