ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effect of Stress Caused by Electromagnetic
Stimulation on the Fluorescence Lifetime
of Chlorophylls in Alfalfa Leaves
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1
Department of Biophysics, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland
2
Department of Plant Production Technology and Commodity Science, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland
3
Department of Analysis and Differential Equations, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science,
University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
4
Chełkowski Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Submission date: 2018-04-23
Final revision date: 2018-07-02
Acceptance date: 2018-07-12
Online publication date: 2019-04-29
Publication date: 2019-05-28
Corresponding author
Agata Dziwulska-Hunek
Department of Physics, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(5):3133-3143
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ABSTRACT
The experimental material consisted of leaves obtained from 6- and 2-year-old alfalfa plants.
Samples were obtained from a field experiment. One day prior to sowing, seeds were stimulated
using He-Ne laser light with a surface power density of 6 mW∙cm-2 – free-fall exposure (L) repeated
three times; alternating magnetic field with 30 mT induction and 30 s (P) exposure time;
and a combination of laser light and magnetic field (L+P). The results of the stimulation treatments
were referenced to non-stimulated samples (control – K). The obtained values of fluorescence lifetime
varied from 8.98 to 12.90 ns (t1) and from 3.84 to 5.14 ns (t2). The physical factors applied caused
an extension of the lifetimes (t1 and t2), as well as an increase in the chlorophyll a and carotenoid content
in 6-year-old cv. Radius leaves, as compared to the control. Contrary observations (i.e., a decrease
in the aforementioned indicators) were made for cv. Ulstar (old). In the case of magnetic field stimulation,
the longest fluorescence lifetimes, the highest concentrations of chlorophyll a and carotenoids were noted
for cv. Radius (old). The content of chlorophyll a was significantly higher in young Lucerne than in older
plants.