Dry seeds were variously arranged with respect to the geomagnetic field. At the time of swelling and germination, the biochemical processes un folded seeds with some of the radicles facing the South Magnetic Pole of the Earth, and others the North Magnetic Pole. The experiments were con ducted in the dark at temperatures ranging between 18 and 25°. The seeds were germinated in moist glass chambers. In some experiments the seeds were placed on evenly moistened filter paper, while in others they were provided only with the humidity of vapor.
Experiments on seeds of the maize variety "Voronezhskaya-76" (Fig ure 1) indicated that seeds with their radicles toward the South Magnetic Pole germinated somewhat earlier than those facing the North Magnetic Pole. The roots of these sprouts grew toward the South Magnetic Pole. The growth of both roots and stalks was more intensive than in the sprouts produced by seeds initially placed with their radicles toward the North Magnetic Pole. In addition to the different rates of growth of the stalks and roots, the experiments also revealed that the roots of sprouts from seeds initially arranged with their radicles toward the North Magnetic Pole bent, and proceeded to grow toward the South Magnetic Pole. In the course of this study a new phenomenon was thus revealed, which we deemed justified in designating magnet o t r o p i s m /2/. Subsequently, the same pheno menon was reported by the British professor Audus who experimented with lettuce seeds /3/.
It should be noted that when the experimental conditions required pre liminary soaking or germination of the seeds, and these were then appro priately oriented with respect to the geomagnetic field, the effect of the latter was extremely reduced, or totally absent. This critical reaction of tumescent or germinated seeds may be explained, apparently, by the definite polarity established in seeds with their initial tumescence, even before growth is visible, and cannot be noticeably changed by the geo magnetic field. Water seems to be largely responsible for the emergence of polarity.
Numerous repeat experiments with seeds of maize, wheat, and other plants conclusively established the influence of the geomagnetic field on the germination of seeds and the growth of sprouts (Figure 2).
The effect of a magnetic field on the germination of seeds and further growth of sprouts was also studied in the magnetic field of artificial permanent magnets. A special device was set up for these studies, con sisting of two horseshoe magnets with their opposite poles facing each other. The distance between the poles could be adjusted with the aid of a special screw. The dry seeds were placed between the magnetic poles
on suitable supports. The seeds were provided with moisture from the humid air in the chamber in which the experiment was set up. The seeds were germinated in the dark.
Seeds of various plants were tested in the artificial magnetic field, as illustrated in Figure 3 by germination of the wheat variety "Krasnozernaya." The wheat seeds placed in the magnetic field with their radicles toward the South Pole of the magnet germinated before those oriented toward the North Pole. From the seeds with radicles oriented toward the South Pole, stalks and roots grew more intensively, with the latter deviating sharply from the plumb line, toward the South Pole of the magnet. In seeds whose radicles were directed toward the North Pole of the magnet, the growth of roots was noticeably retarded, and the growth of stalks less satisfactory. Similar results were obtained with seeds of maize (Figure 4), radish, and other plants. The artificial magnetic field overcame the influence of the geomagnetic field. Germination of the seeds of various plants in the artificial magnetic field confirmed the patterns previously established in the geomagnetic field.
Initial studies of magnetotropism, and, in this connection, of polarity as an electric and magnetic characteristic of the living system, indicate the possibility of revealing important patterns in the life activities of plants. Successful research in this field will make possible a new approach to the study of the most important aspects in the life activities of organisms.
, We shall briefly analyze some results of our studies on the effect of the magnetic field on the germination of various seeds.
We studied polarity further by recording the simultaneous effect of the magnetic field and of physiologically active substances. Gibberllin was selected as a suitable substance. An aqueous solution of gibberellin, in a concentration of was introduced through a capillary tube into the endosperin of the wheat variety "Krasnozernaya." The seeds had been oriented to the corresponding poles of the magnet prior to their injection. The effect of gibberellin was found to differ according to the orientation of the seeds. The growth-promoting effect of gibberellin on seeds with radicles directed toward the North Pole of the magnet was stronger than on those with radicles oriented toward the South Pole. Our findings indicate that the same substance produces different effects for different polarities (Figure 5).