[The Influence of a Weak Horizontal Permanent Magnetic Field on the Composition and Content of Lipids in Lettuce Leaves].

Abstract

The lipid composition and content were analyzed in lettuce Lactica sativa L. (variety Stone head) leaves grown in a weak horizontal permanent magnetic field (PMF) produced by Helmholtz coils of 400 A/m strength under controlled conditions of illumination and temperature in phytothrone. Control plants were grown under the same conditions in a geomagnetic field. PMF decreased the total lipid content by 40% due to a significant decrease in polar and neutral lipids. Among polar lipids, the fractions of glycolipids and phospholipids diminished. Among glycolipids, the content of monogalactosyldiacylglycerols was lower by 25-52%. The content of phospholipids decreased, too, namely phosphatidylglycerols were lower by 17-51%, phosphatidylcholines by 21-24%, phosphatidylethanolamines by 12-20%, and phosphatidylinositols by 12-41%. Therefore, weak PMF reduced the content of lipids in membranes, including the chloroplast, mitochondrial, and cytoplasmic membranes.