A study from the University of Turin shows that a near-zero magnetic field quickly modifies chlorophyll fluorescence and the efficiency of photosystem II. The results open new prospects for space farming and research in controlled environments.
The Study
The research, published in Scientific Reports, was conducted by plant physiologists from the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology at the University of Turin, led by Professor Massimo E. Maffei. The team studied Arabidopsis thaliana, the model species in plant research, comparing three conditions: the normal geomagnetic field, a field reduced to nearly zero, and a stronger, more intense field.
The biggest differences emerged when the magnetic field was almost canceled. The researchers observed an increase in chlorophyll fluorescence and, during subsequent measurements under illumination, a reduction in the operational efficiency of photosystem II, the complex that helps convert light energy into usable energy for the plant.
There was also an increase in the dissipation of excess energy, a protective mechanism for the photosynthetic apparatus. The stronger magnetic field produced comparatively modest effects.
A Response Detectable in Ten Seconds
The speed of the response is one of the central aspects of the study. Previous research had focused mainly on prolonged exposures, in which developmental and metabolic changes can occur. Detecting variations after only seconds allows researchers to study the plant’s earliest reactions to changes in magnetic conditions.
The Moon and Mars present magnetic conditions very different from Earth’s. Understanding how plants respond could thus contribute to designing cultivation systems for future missions, where plants could support the production of food and oxygen.
“If plants are to become a fundamental component of future life-support systems in space,” Massimo Emilio Maffei declares, “we must be able to predict how they will behave in these environments in the long term. The question is how much the responses observed in the lab may influence growth and the plant’s ability to produce food and oxygen over time. Understanding this transition will be essential for designing reliable cultivation systems.”
The study calls for deeper exploration of the role of magnetic fields in controlled-environment agriculture. Magnetic fields are physical stimuli that can be applied and removed quickly, but their potential usefulness in crop management has not yet been demonstrated.
Next Steps
The molecular mechanism underlying the response remains unknown. The results indicate a dependence on the physiological state of the photosynthetic apparatus and open up hypotheses related to quantum biology processes, yet to be tested.
It will also be necessary to determine whether the short-term variations produce lasting effects on growth, adaptation, and the plants’ ability to generate biomass and oxygen. The study thus provides a starting point, not yet a basis for practical applications.
Source
Olmo, A., Kanchiswamy, C.N. & Maffei, M.E. Near-null magnetic fields modulate photosystem II function and electron transport in Arabidopsis thaliana. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-75367-6
Abbonati a Karla Miller
