Influence of a stationary magnetic field on water relations in lettuce seeds. Part I: Theoretical considerations

The theoretical calculation about the dependence of the ionic current densi ty across the cellular membrane on the intensity of the magnetic field appl ied to cellular tissue is presented. This interaction induces changes in th e magnitude of the ionic current density across the cellular membrane and i n the ionic concentration, and it also causes alterations in the osmotic pr essure and in the capacity of the cellular tissues to absorb water. The mag netic field dependence of the ionic current densities J(p) (B) (positive io ns) and J(n) (B) (negative ions), the membrane conductivity sigma (B), the ionic concentration in both membrane sides c(B), the osmotic pressure pi (B ), and the water uptake rate by seeds k(w)(B) are presented. The increase i n water uptake rate due to the applied magnetic field may be the explanatio n of the recently reported increase in the germination speed of the seeds t reated with stationary magnetic fields. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.