| Popis: |
Drugs at ultra-high dilutions close to the Avogadro´s number (theoretical 0-molarity is 10-24) and without apparently containing any drug molecule, have been used in homeopathy therapy for about two centuries. Nowadays, homeopathic procedures involving the controversial phenomenon called “water memory”, have regained their use in different application areas. In the present study, 10-7, 10-14, and 10-36 dilutions of a commercial fertilizer were evaluated in a 7-day wheat growth bioassay. Test dilutions were prepared following a standardized protocol, according to the method of stepwise dilution and succession, as derived from traditional homeopathy. Experiments were performed on herbicides- and pesticides-free wheat grains (Triticum durum Rafi C97 variety). Treatments were compared with negative controls including; a) pure bi-distilled water and b) sham-treated pure bi-distilled water, following the same protocol as used for fertilizer dilutions with 200 strokes and the same steps of dilutions. A 2% of commercial fertilizer was used as a positive control. The observed results of three independent bioassays, showed an increased wheat stalk growth after treatment with diluted and agitated fertilizer solutions, as compared with negative controls (p < 0.05). Positive controls showed the highest stalk growth, but it was not significantly different from that of the diluted fertilizer. These results suggest that there was an influence of highly diluted commercial fertilizer on wheat seedling development. |
