Preface

Chemical additives used for increasing plant productivity can contaminate the raw materi‐ als used in food production. Physical methods represent alternative promising sources for stimulating plant development and increasing vegetable production. Many physical factors are currently used for plant treatment, including electromagnetic waves, optical emission, laser, magnetic field, gamma rays and ultrasound and ionizing radiation. The sensitivity of plants to the effect of these physical factors has been demonstrated.

This book discusses such physical methods for stimulation of plant development and seed invigoration. Current research trends, future research directions and challenges are also dis‐ cussed. This book will be of interest to many readers, researchers and scientists who can find this information useful for the advancement of their research works towards a better understanding of physical methods in plant development.

This book includes seven chapters. The first introductory chapter "Physical Methods for Stimulating Plant Growth and Development" presents an introduction to the physical meth‐ ods and their important applications in plant growth and development. The second chapter "The Effect of Leaf Removal-Based Physical Injury on High Seed and Crude Oil Yields in Sunflower (*Helianthus annuus* L.)" aims to increase the photosynthetic activity in the sun‐ flower via leaf defoliation and consequently to enhance seed and crude oil yields. The third chapter "A Bayesian Multiple-Trait and Multiple-Environment Model Using the Matrix Normal Distribution" provides an improved version of the Bayesian multiple-trait and mul‐ tiple-environment (BMTME) model that takes into account the correlation between traits (genetic and residual) and environments. The fourth chapter "Branch Formation and Yield by Flower Bud or Shoot Removal in Tomato" investigates the effects of flower bud or shoot removal on plant growth, flowering and yield. The fifth chapter "Using Abrasive Grit for Weed Management in Field Crops" evaluates a fertilizer grit and a non-fertilizer grit for abrasive in-row weed management in maize and soybean. The sixth chapter "Use of Some Bacteria and Mycorrhizae as Biofertilizers in Vegetable Growing and Beneficial Effects in Abiotic Stress Conditions" describes the effects of bacteria and mycorrhiza on vegetable growth and their responses to abiotic stresses. The seventh chapter "High-Voltage Methods for Stimulation of Mushroom Fruit Body Developments" describes the role of high-voltage methods in stimulating the development of the mushroom body.

I would like to thank Mr. Teo Kos, Publishing Process Manager, for his wholehearted coop‐ eration in the publication of this book.

> **Mohamed Ahmed El-Esawi, PhD** Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egypt Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

**Chapter 1**

**Provisional chapter**

**Introductory Chapter: Physical Methods for**

**Introductory Chapter: Physical Methods for** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.80441

Various physiological, biochemical, and molecular genetic markers have been applied to enhance plant performance and crop yield [1–19]. The required increase of agricultural production has imposed the essentiality for probing incipient and secured decisions due to the incremented requisite of environmental agricultural products and raw materials, which are both used in food and industrial purposes [20]. The substantial alterations of the atmosphere, soil, or even water which all happen due to the excess utilization of divergent chemical supplements used to increment the yield level are some of the most recent results of anthropogenic adjustments that consequently have led to probing these new alternative methods [20]. Such ways for incrementing the products contain the plausible utilization of supersessions or chemicals through using congruous or applicable physical influences or factors [20]. These influences when used on some biologically controlled comportment are considered as a contemporary trend in amalgamating the consolidation of plant technology with the environmental requisites [20]. Physical methods represent alternative promising sources for stimulating plant development and increasing vegetable production. Many physical factors are currently used for plant treatment, including electromagnetic waves, optical emission, laser, magnetic field, gamma rays, and the ultrasound and ionizing radiation [20]. The sensi-

tivity of plants to the effect of these physical factors has been demonstrated.

Various studies demonstrated that the effect of the magnetic field on the seeds enhances their expeditious growth, root growth, and activated protein formation [20–25]. The results of those studies revealed that the treatment of seeds with the magnetic fields incremented nonstandard seed germination and quality. The rationale behind these reactions can be detected in some of the characteristics of green plastids, namely chloroplasts, which represent the pho-

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

© 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.

**Stimulating Plant Growth and Development**

**Stimulating Plant Growth and Development**

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Mohamed A. El-EsawiAdditional information is available at the end of the chapter

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

tosynthesis apparatus of higher plants.

Mohamed A. El-Esawi

**1. Introduction**

#### **Chapter 1 Provisional chapter**

#### **Introductory Chapter: Physical Methods for Stimulating Plant Growth and Development Introductory Chapter: Physical Methods for Stimulating Plant Growth and Development**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.80441

Mohamed A. El-Esawi

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Mohamed A. El-EsawiAdditional information is available at the end of the chapter

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