• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Chilling resistance of Phaseolus vulgaris and Brassica oleracea under a high-intensity electric field. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the effects of an electric field, low temperature, and their combinations on tissue vitality and some physiological variables regarding antioxidant responses of cold-sensitive bean and cold-tolerant kale leaves.
Background/further details:
15 day old seedlings were exposed to an electric field prior to cold treatment (5/2°C day/night). Plants were harvested on 3rd and 6th day after electric field application.

Endpoint

• cold resistance, stress response in plants (total protein content, tissue vitality, physiological parameters (hydrogen peroxide content and antioxidant enzyme activities))

Exposure
General category: electric field, 50/60 Hz (AC), co-exposure

Field characteristics	Parameters
50 Hz exposure duration: 10 min. or 40 min.	electric field strength: 100 kV/m

Exposed system:
plant (species/strain): bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Gina) and kale (Brassica oleracea L. cv. Acephale)

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• stress response in plants (total protein content (Bradford protein assay), tissue vitality (tetrazolium test), physiological parameters (hydrogen peroxide content (absorption measurement) and antioxidant enzyme activities of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase))

Main outcome of study (according to author)
In both plants, cold application alone caused statistically significant increments in total protein levels and the antioxidant enzyme activities. However, tissue vitality and hydrogen peroxide levels did not change in the cold-tolerant kale, while tissue vitality decreased and hydrogen peroxide levels increased in cold-sensitive bean.
Electric field application alone did not cause any significant changes in the both plant species. On the other hand, 40 min electric field exposure increased the deteriorative effect of cold treatment in both plant species, while 10 min electric field augmented the chilling resistance by increasing the tissue vitality and antioxidant enzyme activities resulting in decreased hydrogen peroxide levels.
The authors conclude that electric field exposure (100 kV/m) for a very short time (10 min) before chilling treatment augments the chilling resistance by elevating the enzymatic antioxidant activation and tissue vitality, thus resulting in less hydrogen peroxide formation especially in cold-sensitive species.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• Atatürk University, Turkey

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