title: Ultraweak, spontaneous photon emission in seedlings: toxicological and chronobiological applications.
abstract: The detection of ultraweak light emission in seedlings has been explored in toxicological and chronobiological studies. The main studies in this area are reviewed briefly, including a report on applied tests held in the last 7 years at LaFA--UNICAMP (Brazil). In general, results indicate that a linear relation for total light emission versus germination performance is found if only strong stress situations are considered, when external factors depress a seedling's development, even when considering a sequential series of tests. Light emitted by a single seedling was detected in a compact apparatus, and data are presented here for the first time showing pronounced circadian cycles are evident, with similar time and frequency profiles as those of the local gravimetric tide.
authors.affiliation: LaFA/Applied Photonics Lab., School of Technology, University of Campinas, Limeira, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Mello Gallep
mesh_terms: D055881:Chronobiology Discipline / Q000266:history*; D002909:Chronobiology Phenomena; D018525:Germination; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049449:Luminescence; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D017785:Photons; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods
keywords: biophoton; chronobiology; germination test; toxicology; ultraweak photon emission