The influence of the electrostatic stress on cell proliferation in plants

The putative mutagen effect of the direct current discharge—often occurring in the natural environment of cultivated and spontaneous plant populations—was studied. The electric exposure was carried out on freshly germinated seeds, meristematic tissue samples being further investigated by cytogenetic means. The pharmaceutical plant species Echinacea purpurea was chosen due to its recent re-consideration as preventive and curative treatment for the human immune system. The cellular proliferation and the chromosomal aberrations in the somatic cells of the plantlet roots have been analyzed. The atmospheric electric exposure was simulated using a homemade device, various numbers of electric pulses—from 5 to 40—with amplitudes of 15 kV being tested. Slight stimulation of the mitotic index was noticed as well as various types of chromosomal aberrations (e.g., retard chromosomes, microuclei and chromosome bridges), which suggested that the electrostatic stress could cause genetic changes in the exposed plants during their early ontogenetic stages.