**Author details**

Mohamed A. El-Esawi1,2


## **References**

[1] Consentino L, Lambert S, Martino C, Jourdan N, Bouchet PE, Witczak J, et al. Blue-light dependent reactive oxygen species formation by Arabidopsis cryptochrome may define a novel evolutionarily conserved signalling mechanism. New Phytologist. 2015;**206**: 1450-1462

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Several studies recently showed that the treatment by utilizing the ultrasound radiations can transform the conditions of some substances and hence expedite the interactions between them [20]. Such facts have incentivized their implementation to stimulate the development of various cultures [26, 27]. Effects of 22 kHz frequency and 150 W power ultrasound treatments on germination energy and the seed of carrot (*Daucus carota* L.) showed that the superior influences were verified to be 5 minutes only [20]. Seeds of *Robinia pseudoacacia*, *Caragana arborescens, Laburnum anagyroides*, and *Gleditsia triacanthos* treated with ultrasound radiation have revealed increases in the germinations of the seeds, shoot length, and fresh weights [20]. It can be inferred that ultrasound treatment has played the vital role of the factors stimulating

plant growth. Ionizing radiation effect on plant growth has also studied [28].

2 Physical Methods for Stimulation of Plant and Mushroom Development

\*Address all correspondence to: mohamed.elesawi@science.tanta.edu.eg 1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

2 The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

[1] Consentino L, Lambert S, Martino C, Jourdan N, Bouchet PE, Witczak J, et al. Blue-light dependent reactive oxygen species formation by Arabidopsis cryptochrome may define

**Author details**

**References**

Mohamed A. El-Esawi1,2

**2. Importance of application of physical methods on plant growth**

Chemical additives used for increasing plant productivity cause the contamination of raw materials required for food production [20]. Physical methods are applied for enhancing crop yield and plant growth and development. These methods include the plant treatment with electromagnetic waves, particularly optical emission, ultrasound and ionizing radiation, and magnetic field [20]. Using physical methods for stimulating plant growth has recently increased [21, 22, 29–32]. Additionally, further studies demonstrated that the development of the living organisms is recognized by the effect on physical factors, such as magnetic field, electromagnetic spectrum, and gamma rays [20, 27]. Those factors define the environment for plant growth. Upon physical treatment, the energy in cells is involved in facilitating molecular transformations; therefore, the cells are provided with the required substances [20]. This work discusses the physical methods and properties for stimulation of plant development and seed invigoration. Current research trends, future research directions, and challenges are also discussed.


[14] El-Esawi MA, Germaine K, Bourke P, Malone R. AFLP analysis of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of *Brassica oleracea* in Ireland. Comptes Rendus Biologies. 2016;**133**:163-170

[29] De Souza TA, Garcia Fernandez D, et al. Estimulacion del crecimiento y desarollo de plantas de tomate (vyta) por tratamiento magnetico presiembra en periodo tardio.

Introductory Chapter: Physical Methods for Stimulating Plant Growth and Development

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.80441

5

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[14] El-Esawi MA, Germaine K, Bourke P, Malone R. AFLP analysis of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of *Brassica oleracea* in Ireland. Comptes Rendus Biologies.

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[17] El-Esawi MA, Witczak J, Abomohra A, Ali HM, Elshikh MS, Ahmad M. Analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of Austrian and Belgian wheat germplasm

[18] Jourdan N, Martino C, El-Esawi M, Witczak J, Bouchet PE, d'Harlingue A, Ahmad M. Bluelight dependent ROS formation by *Arabidopsis* Cryptochrome-2 may contribute

[19] Vwioko E, Adinkwu O, El-Esawi MA. Comparative physiological, biochemical and genetic responses to prolonged waterlogging stress in okra and maize given exogenous

[20] Aladjadjiyan A. The use of physical methods for plant growing stimulation in Bulgaria.

[21] Campbell GS. An Introduction to Environmental Biophysics. N.Y., USA: Springer-

[22] Carbonell EM, Amaya JM. Stimulation of germination of rice by a static magnetic field.

[23] Phirke P, Kubde A, Umbarkar S. The influence of magnetic field on plant growth. Seed

[24] Samy CG. Magnetic seed treatment. Influence on flowering, siliqua and seed characters

[25] Soltani F, Kashi A, Arghavani M. Effect of magnetic field on *Asparagus originalis* L. Seed germinaton and seedling growth. Seed Science and Technology. 2006;**34**:349-353

[26] Rubtsova ID. Effect of ultrasound on the germination of the seeds and on productivity of

[27] Vasilevski G. Perspectives of application of biophysical methods in sustainable agricul-

[28] Sax K. The effect of ionizing radiation on plant growth. American Journal of Botany.

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**Chapter 2**

**Provisional chapter**

**The Effect of Leaf Removal–Based Physical Injury on**

Yield in agricultural production decreases due to biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic (salinity, drought, high temperature, etc.) stress factors. Chemical methods have been widely used to fight against biotic stress factors. However, the use of chemicals in agriculture causes extra financial cost and environmental pollution. Improvement of high yielded cultivars via plant breeding methods does not seem to be adequate for meeting food demand of increasing population. That is why, the improvement of environmentally friendly new methods for high yield is obligatory. Leaves in plants form an active surface for photosynthesis. High photosynthetic activity affects yield directly by increasing matter production. The aim of this study was to increase seed and oil yields in sunflower via leaf defoliation. Oil-type sunflower cultivars used in the study, "08-TR-003," "TR-3080," and "TARSAN-1018," were obtained from the "Trakya Agricultural Research Institute." When plants reached to "star-shaped head stage," which is the beginning of the reproductive period, four different defoliation treatments were performed. They were control (no leaves removed), two leaves removed, four leaves removed, and six leaves removed. Half of the leaves were removed from just below the head, while the other half was removed from the middle part of the plant. After harvest, seed yield per plant, seed yield per decare, crude protein percentage, crude oil percentage, crude protein yield per decare, and crude oil yield per decare were determined. At the end of the study, it was observed that the application of defoliation, compared to the control, affected all charac-

**The Effect of Leaf Removal–Based Physical Injury** 

**on High Seed and Crude Oil Yields in Sunflower** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.71357

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution,

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

**Keywords:** Sunflower, defoliation, seed yield, crude protein yield, crude oil yield

**High Seed and Crude Oil Yields in Sunflower**

**(***Helianthus annuus* **L.)**

Mustafa Yildiz, Mehdi Taher,

Mehtap Gursoy

**Abstract**

teristics positively.

**(***Helianthus annuus* **L.)**

Mustafa Yildiz, Mehdi Taher, Marieh Javani,

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Ramazan Beyaz and Mehtap Gursoy

Marieh Javani, Ramazan Beyaz and

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71357

**Provisional chapter**
