Spatial allocation effects within a potentization basic research model – evidence for field-like effects of homeopathic preparations?

Background: The mode of action of ultramolecular homeopathic preparations is still unknown. Interactions between objects or entities can be grouped in four main general scientific categories: material, force-/field-like, entanglement-like or informational. Should homeopathic preparations have a field-like mode of action, there is greater probability of cross-contamination as long as the means to “shield” objects from each other is unknown. A field-like interaction would also lead to treatment at a distance effects that are distance-dependent. Aims: We analysed a set of experiments with Arsenicum album 45x treated wheat seedlings regarding a possible distance-dependent cross-contamination. Materials and Methods: We performed an a posteriori analysis of a set of 17 independent experiments [1,2] with wheat seedlings pre-treated with 1‰ arsenic. Three treatments were applied (Arsenicum album 45x, water 45x, or unpotentized water) with 150 seedlings in each treatment group per experiment. Seedlings were arranged in hanging plastic bags side-by-side in identically treated blocks of 10 seedlings. The 3x15 blocks were coded and randomly allocated to the three treatments. Wheat shoot length was measured after 7 days. Treatment effects were analysed as function of the position (1–10) within the blocks of 10 seedlings. Results: Analyzing all data, Arsenicum album 45x exerted an inhibiting effect (–3.2%, p=0.01) compared to both water and water 45x. When restricting the analysis to the outermost seedlings of all subgroups (pos. 1, 10), the treatment effect vanished (0.3%, p=0.92). In contrast, the innermost seedlings of all subgroups (pos. 5, 6) showed a treatment effect of –5.6% (p=0.02). Intermediate pairs of positions (pos. 2–4, 7–9) showed intermediate effects. Regarding shoot length, dependency on spatial position was observed for the plants of the water control groups, but not for the plants treated with Arsenicum album 45x. Conclusions: Whilst the effect of Arsenicum album 45x on wheat-shoot growth was not dependent on the spatial position within the subgroup, the water-control plants became smaller the closer they were to Arsenicum album 45x-treated seedlings. This observation is compatible with the existence of a field-like effect of homeopathic dilutions. Another possible explanation that cannot be ruled out by the present experiments, is contamination through the gas-phase. Future investigations of ultramolecular homeopathic preparations should control any such effects since they may mask treatment effects, leading to false-negative results. Closer investigation of the nature of this distance-dependent effect might contribute to identification of the mode of action of ultramolecular homeopathic preparations.

P- SOLUBILIZING MICROORGANISMS PERFORMANCE ON MANURE AND ROCK PHOSPHATE AND THEIR INFLUENCES ON SOIL AND PLANT PHOSPHOROUS IN CALCAREOUS SOILS

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms were isolated in vitro experiment, and wheat crops were planted in pots for 5 months and treated with rock phosphate, manure and with combination treatments of rock phosphate, manure, and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms to compare with control treatment. The result shows that the solubilizing index ranged between 1.4 to 1.6 for isolated microorganisms, the decrease in soil pH which has an enormous influence on phosphate solubility were significantly influenced by the addition of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, and manure is 6.5 pH comparing with 8 pH for control. Soil soluble and extractable phosphorous also increased by a combination of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms and manure recording 0.46±0.03 ppm and 10.7±1.01 ppm respectively comparing to 0.39±0.01 ppm and 0.75±0.11ppm for control after one month of the experiment, and this significance continued to 3 and 5 months after planting followed by the combination treatment of rock phosphate and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms. Total phosphorous in both wheat shoot and root after 5 months of planting were increased significantly by the addition of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms and manure to record 0.792±0.11% in shoot and 0.66±0.13% in roots and more than other treatments, however the translocation of phosphorous is harder than nitrogen from roots to shoots. The addition of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms enhanced the growth ratio of wheat up to 96±5 comparing to 40±3 for control.

Inhibition of wheat growth planted after glyphosate application to weeds

Glyphosate is easily translocated from shoots to roots and released into the rhizosphere. The objective of this study was to clarify the influence of glyphosate residues in the root tissue of glyphosate-treated weeds on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and shikimate accumulation. Foliar application to 5-leaf downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) planted in sandy loam soil reduced wheat (‘Tubbs 06’) shoot fresh weight by 37% to 46% compared with the control when seeds were planted 0 and 1 d after applications. With Italian ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot], wheat shoot fresh weight was inhibited by 20% to 34% compared with the control at 0, 1, 3, and 5 d after applications to 1.5- and 5-leaf-stage plants. Using a different wheat cultivar (‘Stephens’), shoot fresh weight was inhibited by 19% to 43% when seeds were planted 0 d after glyphosate applications to 1.5-, 2-, and 5-leaf-stage B. tectorum and L. perenne planted in sandy loam soil compared with control. In contrast, some studies using treated L. perenne and B. tectorum planted in clay loam soil resulted in increases in wheat shoot fresh weight. Lolium perenne planted in water-saturated sandy loam soil showed no differences in either shoot or root fresh weight or shikimate accumulation in shoots or roots. Compared with the control plants, shikimate accumulation in roots increased 51- to 59-fold in wheat planted in sandy loam soil that previously contained B. tectorum and 13- to 49-fold in soil that previously contained L. perenne. In both studies, glyphosate was applied at the 1.5-leaf stage, and wheat seeds were sown 0, 1, and 3 d after glyphosate applications. Thus, plant damage caused by glyphosate was associated with increased shikimate accumulation in the root tissue. Overall, crop damage caused by glyphosate residue to target plants was strongly influenced by soil type, soil water conditions, glyphosate sensitivity, target weed species identity, and weed densities.

Joint Effect of Cadmium and Chlorimuron-Ethyl on Cadmium Accumulation of Wheat

The joint effects of Cd and Chlorimuron-ethyl(CE) on Cd accumulation in wheat shoot/root and SPT coefficient of Cd was carried out. Cd concentration in shoot and root increased with increasing soil Cd, but Cd concentration in shoot/root was lower than the same treatment when CE was added, and negative relationship between Cd concentration in shoot (root) and concentration of CE were significant (p<0.05 or p<0.01). There was antagonistic effect of Cd and low CE on Cd accumulation in wheat tissues. Cd concentration in shoot decreased during the period of growth, but the concentration of Cd in root increased from the elongation stage to the florescence, and then decreased from the florescence to mature stage when the concentration of soil Cd was less than 100 mg kg-1, and it decreased when the concentration of soil Cd was 100 mg kg-1. The SPT values of different growth periods decreased during the period of growth.

Effects of high concentrations of soil arsenic on the growth of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L) and rape (Brassica napus)

Soil arsenic (As) levels are particularly high in parts of China, where wheat and rape are widely grown. Understanding the effects of As concentration on the growth of these two major crops is of significance for food production and security in China. A pot experiment was carried out to study the uptake of As and phosphorus (P), and the soil As bioavailability at different growth stages of wheat and rape. The results indicated that winter wheat was much more sensitive to As stress than rape. Wheat yields were elevated at low rates of As addition (&lt; 60 mg/kg) but reduced at high rates of As concentrations (80&ndash;100 mg/kg); while the growth of rape hadn&rsquo;t showed significant responses to As addition. Phosphorus concentrations in wheat at jointing and ear sprouting stages increased with increasing soil As concentrations, and these increases were assumed to contribute a lot to enhanced growth of wheat at low As treatments. Arsenic did not significantly affect P concentrations in rape either. The highest As concentrations in wheat shoot and rape leaf were 8.31 and 3.63 mg/kg, respectively. Arsenic concentrations in wheat and rape grains did not exceed the maximum permissible limit for food stuffs of 1.0 mg/kg. When soil As concentration was less than 60 mg/kg, both wheat and rape could grow satisfactorily without adverse effects; when soil As concentration was 80&ndash;100 mg/kg, rape was more suitable to be planted than wheat. &nbsp; &nbsp;