Electromagnetic field (EMF) and its effect on crop plant growth and their quality parameters is increasingly gaining the interest of researchers in agronomic science. However, the exact mechanism of EMF action in plant cells is still unclear. Among the completely unexplored parameters is the relationship between the EMF effects and the seed size. Thus, the EMF effect was analyzed in winter wheat seeds categorized into two size groups, small and big. The study focused on the germination kinetics, early growth parameters, and phytohormone concentrations (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA and abscisic acid, ABA) in seeds, roots, and coleoptiles after exposure to EMFs (50 Hz, 7 mT) and their controls. EMF exposure resulted in faster germination and the more rapid early growth of organs, especially in big seeds in dark conditions. The faster germination and seedling growth of small seeds in control conditions, and of big seeds after EMF exposure, corresponds largely to the decline in IAA and ABA levels. This study confirms that presowing treatment with an EMF is a promising tool for sustainable seed crop improvement, but detailed studies on the EMF mechanism of action, including phytohormones, are necessary to better control future crop yield, especially considering the factor of seed size.

Proteins with a CyaB, thiamine triphosphatase domain (CYTH domain) may play a central role at the interface between nucleotide and polyphosphate metabolism. One of the plant CYTH domain‐containing proteins from Brachypodium distachyon, BdTTM3, is annotated in NCBI databases as an ‘adenylyl cyclase (AC)’ or a ‘triphosphate tunnel metalloenzyme’. The divergent nomenclature and the search for plant ACs induced us to experimentally confirm the enzymatic activity of BdTTM3. Based on in vitro analysis, we have shown that the recombinant form of BdTTM3 is a protein with high triphosphatase activity (binding both tripolyphosphate and ATP) and low AC activity. Furthermore, the analysis of BdTTM3 transcriptional activity indicates its involvement in the mechanism underlying responses to wounding stress in B. distachyon leaves.

Background: Increasing demand for food and concerns over the environmental impact of agriculture has prompted the search for alternatives to many conventional farming practices. Reports on exposing seeds and plants at various developmental stages to static magnetic field (SMF) and non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) as a form of priming indicate some positive effects on seed germinability, growth rate, resistance to stress conditions, and improved yield. However, there exist some inconsistent reported treatment protocols and contradictory study outcomes that make it difficult to draw objective conclusions on the potential use of SMF and EMF as sustainable alternatives to improving crop growth and yield. It is equally essential to understand any adverse effects of exposing plants to SMF and EMF considering the abundance of their sources in the environment. In order to provide a more coherent overview of how plants respond to exposure to SMF and EMF not only in their observed effects of agronomic importance but also in the mechanisms of action of SMF and EMF in plant cells, we prepare a systematic map.Methods: Literature will be identified by searching six bibliographic databases and three web-based search engines using terms obtained from the population, exposure, and outcome parameters of the research question. Primary research published in peer-reviewed journals and grey literature will be the source for the evidence map. Studies eligible for inclusion may involve: food crops and related research model plants exposed to SMF or non-ionizing EMF; treatment at all plant developmental stages excluding post-harvest improvement of food crops; and the presence of control groups. Eligible literature will be screened at the title, abstract, and full text levels. The validity of studies will not be critically appraised for the evidence map. A process of double extraction and coding of relevant information from eligible literature will be conducted. Within the evidence map, relevant data will be presented in the forms of text, graphs, tables, and figures. This will illustrate research trends, bring clarity to the evidence base concerning clusters of sufficient findings and areas of significant gaps, and inform stakeholders in decisions concerning research planning and policy formulation.

Research interest into the exposure of plants to magnetic fields (MF), including electromagnetic fields (EMF), has increased recently but results often vary depending on factors such as plant species and treatment dose. In this study, we exposed young (one year) and old (four years) field bean (Vicia faba L. (partim)) seeds to EMF (50 Hz, 7 mT) and observed seed germination and seedling growth under different conditions (growth media and light). The results indicated a stimulation by EMF of germination and early root growth of Petri dish-sown old seeds in continuous darkness and inhibition of germination of the pot-sown young seeds under long-day conditions. Root growth of two-week-old seedlings from pot-sown young seeds was stimulated by EMF treatment while their stem growth was inhibited. Some selected biochemical traits were examined, showing specific changes in membrane integrity, amylase activity, H₂O₂ levels, photosynthetic pigments, and content of the main groups of phytohormones, depending on seed age. The results indicate that priming of field bean seeds with EMF (50 Hz, 7 mT) could be a eustress factor that influences germination, early growth, and cellular activities and could positively influence the ability of field bean plants to grow and develop in more stressful conditions at later stages.