Weak extremely high frequency microwaves affect pollen-tube emergence and growth in kiwifruit: pollen grain irradiation and water-mediated effects.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of weak-intensity extremely high frequency (EHF) microwaves in a model system-the plant organism pollen grain-lacking the placebo effect, available in large populations, to ensure accurate statistical analysis, and whose sensitivity is closely relevant to animal and human biology.


METHODS
This study was blinded using an in vitro pollen germination technique. SUBJECTS AND STUDY INTERVENTIONS: Pollen of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) was either directly irradiated or grown in a medium prepared with irradiated water, using a CromoStim 2000, (PromoPharma, Republic of San Marino) designed for EHF microwave resonance therapy (MRT). It produces weak intensity EHF radiations (40-78 GHz), either continuous wave (cw) or modulated, at a 10 Hz-frequency, with infrared (IR) carried to 635-950 nm, and with an impedance (IPD) of 10(-21) W/Hz cm(2) and a power supply from 0 to 20 mW.


METHODS
Pollen-tube emergence was expressed as a percent of grains producing a tube and tube elongation was measured at 4 hours of incubation by a turbidimetric assay (A(500)) of cultures, expressed as the net absorbance increase over time 0.


RESULTS
At days 2 and 4 during aging, both percent of germination and tube growth significantly and consistently improved over controls in kiwifruit pollen grains irradiated for 30 minutes at day 0 at 10 Hz frequency with the CromoStim 2000. Highly significant effects, either stimulant or inhibitory, were also observed on kiwifruit pollen (stressed or not) growing in a medium prepared with water previously irradiated either cw or modulated. Irradiated water affected pollen germination immediately and even after several days following EHF treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Either direct or indirect EHF irradiation performed by the CromoStim 2000 is effective on pollen growth processes. In both cases, water seemed to play a primary role. According to the quantum electrodynamical coherence theory, our work could also have implications for homeopathy, suggesting a key to explain the efficacy of high dilutions and succussion procedures.
Calzoni
Gian Lorenzo
GL
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Bologna, Italy.
Borghini
Francesco
F
Del Giudice
Emilio
E
Betti
Lucietta
L
Dal Rio
Francesca
F
Migliori
Manuela
M
Trebbi
Grazia
G
Speranza
Anna
A
D029042:Actinidia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018525:Germination; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008872:Microwaves; D011058:Pollen / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014867:Water
D014867:Water