生物に及ぼす磁場の影響　―イネの発芽率に及ぼす磁場の影響の検討―

In recent years, the radical-pair mechanism, a quantum biological effect, has been proposed as a potential explanation for the magnetoreceptive abilities of living organisms. The integration of biology and quantum mechanics in studying magnetoreception could provide profound insights into fundamental life processes. While the roles of plant hormones in seed germination and growth are well established, their potential magnetoreceptive capabilities remain largely unexplored. As an initial step toward elucidating the magnetoreceptive properties of plants, this study investigated the germination of rice seeds under a strong magnetic field generated by a medical 0.3T MRI system. Observations conducted at 24-hour intervals over a one-week period indicated no significant effect of the magnetic field on the overall germination rate. However, higher-resolution observations at three-hour intervals during the early stages of germination revealed that the rate of germination in the magnetic field was approximately three times faster than that observed outside the magnetic field. These findings suggest that while magnetic fields may not significantly impact overall germination rates, they could influence the dynamics of early germination, warranting further investigation into the underlying mechanisms