Simultaneous biophoton measurement of control and fluoride stressed seedlings samples

Abstract

A series of 10 germinations experiments with duplicated wheat seedlings samples - one imbibed in sodium fluoride (NaF, EC50) and another in water - have their spontaneous, ultra-weak photon emission measured simultaneously for 24-h, at the 4th day of germination, in two identical measurement systems. The UPE profiles of acute stressed sprouts present initially higher increase but after 6 hours a fast decrease. These variations for the profiles local angular coefficient are so correlated to germination parameters - roots elongation and biomass gain - with clear difference between the stressed and control samples. Variations of such methodology can be developed for quick and reliable analysis of toxicity in germination tests.