Alleviative effects of Faradarmani Consciousness Field on Triticum aestivum L. under salinity stress

Introduction

Most criticism about complementary therapy is the lack of scientific research. In order to be accepted, academic studies using different study designs are necessary. Since one of the critical objections occurring when human beings are treated with complementary therapy is the placebo responses, biochemical plant-based studies can be a suitable method to clarify the phenomenon (Betti et al., 2003). Among the different plant model systems, the wheat plant has been repeatedly selected for homeopathy research Baumgartner et al. (2000) showed that homeopathic drugs improved plant resistance, which exerted their effect through detoxification processes.

In arid and semi-arid areas of the world, salinity is considered as a major factor in reducing crop productivity (Ahmad et al., 2019). Plant growth is adversely affected by multiple environmental stresses, including biotic (e.g. fungi, bacteria, viruses, herbivores) and abiotic (e.g. low temperature, salt, drought, heavy metal toxicity). Among these the salination of arable land is one of the key factors that threatens the sustainability of the agricultural industry. Thus, many studies have attempted to explore processes that contribute to plant survival under salt stress (Yu et al., 2020) as a strategy to improve productivity and fertility. It is well documented that plants that are exposed to biotic or abiotic stresses have biochemical changes that exert oxidative damage through Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) (Hasanuzzaman et al., 2020). These free radicals disrupt cell membrane stability by peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the plant cell membranes (Chourasia et al., 2021) and denature protein and nucleic acids (Chen et al., 1993). To alleviate adverse effects of oxidative stress, plants have developed diverse strategies, which are categorized as enzymatic, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and ascorbate peroxidase, and non-enzymatic that directly scavenge ROS, such as glutathione, tocopherol, flavonoids and ascorbates (Sarker & Oba, 2020). Plants that have developed an antioxidant system that participates in ROS scavenging have better resistance to oxidative damage (Garcia-Caparros et al., 2021).

To date, there have been many studies to explore the relationship between the intangible and physical world, especially the interaction between the human mind and outside physical world. For instance, it has been reported that the mind can affect dice tosses (Rhine, 1944). Researchers have previously focused on probabilistic systems, like tossing coins, using random number generators (RNGs). The first RNG study was conducted by Radin & Nelson (1989), which included 597 experiments and 235 control studies. This type of research was considered as ‘micro-psychokinesis’ (micro-PK) (Jahn et al., 1980; Varvoglis & Bancel, 2015). However, micro-PK is not completely acceptable to science because of the null effects and failure to replicate previous positive results (Jahn et al., 2000). Throughout history, studies can be found that explain the interaction between the human mind and body, such as ‘distant healing’, or the effects of the mind on inanimate physical systems, like morphological changes in a thin strip of metal (Randall & Davis, 1982).

Faradarmani is one of the many Consciousness Fields (CFs) founded by Mohammad Ali Taheri in the 1980s. Consciousness, according to Taheri, is one of the three existing elements of the universe apart from matter and energy. In this perspective, these fields are the subcategories of a networked universal internet called the Cosmic Consciousness Network (CCN). By defining Consciousness as neither matter nor energy, we cannot associate a quantity to it. Since consciousness isn’t measurable, its existence can only be known through experience (Taheri, 2013). The major difference between Taheri’s theory and other theoretical concepts about consciousness is related to the practical application of CFs. They can be applied to all living and non-living creatures, including plants, animals, microorganisms, materials, etc. (Taheri et al., 2022). The influence of the CFs begins with the Connection between CCN as the Whole Consciousness of the universe and the subjects of study as a part. This Connection named “Ettesal” is established by a Faradarmangar’s mind (a certified and trained individual who has been entrusted with the CFs). The human mind has an intermediary role (Announcer) which plays a part by fleeting attention to the subject of study and then the main achievement obtained as a result of the effects of the CFs

Although the mechanism of this linkage is not yet definable by science, its consequences can be measured and studied scientifically.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Faradarmani CF on alleviating the effects of salt stress in a spring wheat variety (Star).

Methods

Results

Salinity decreased the contents of chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b and total Chl (Figure 1a–c). Under the influence of Faradarmani CF with 150 mM NaCl, the contents of total Chl, Chl a and Chl b were elevated (34.8%, 17.8% and 169%, respectively) compared to the plants treated with 150mM without Faradarmani CF.

Figure 1.

Effects of Faradarmani Consciousness Field treatment on (a) chlorophyll a, (b) total chlorophyll, (c) chlorophyll b, (d) hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Plants were treated with 0 mM NaCl (control) or 150mM NaCl Vertical bars indicate mean ± standard error of three replicates. Means followed by the same letter were not significantly different at P<0.05.

The effect of NaCl treatment on H₂O₂ is shown in (Figure 1d). Results of the present study showed that H₂O₂ content remained unchanged under salinity condition whereas for the Faradarmani CF treated groups (control and 150mM NaCl) showed significant enhancement 100% and 57.1%, respectively.

MDA content was assessed as an oxidative indicator. Salinity stress caused an increase of 59.5% in MDA content as compared to that of control. The Faradarmani CF treatment to the salt-stressed plant decreased MDA content by about 12.5% (Figure 2d).

Figure 2. Effects of Faradarmani Consciousness Field treatment on antioxidant enzyme activities.

(a) polyphenol oxidase (PPO), (b) peroxidase (POX), (c) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and (d) malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Plants were treated with 0 mM NaCl (control) or 150mM NaCl Vertical bars indicate mean ± standard error of three replicates. Means followed by the same letter were not significantly different at P<0.05.

POX activity was significantly increased by NaCl treatment up to 244 % compared with control while under salinity treatment exposure to Faradarmani CF decreased the activity of enzyme by 34 % (Figure 2b).

SOD activity was slightly increased under salinity. However, it was found that with Faradarmani CF the activity of SOD in salinity condition was about 220 % higher than that in salinity without Faradarmani CF treatment (Figure 2c)

Similarly, PPO activity was not significantly higher than non-saline condition (control). However, the PPO activity showed an increase of 168% under salinity in response to Faradarmani CF compared to the salinity treated without Faradarmani CF treatment (Figure 2a).

Discussion

In this study, chlorophyll a and b, and total chlorophyll contents decreased remarkably under salinity conditions (Figure 1). This is supported by previous data reported in tomato plants (Al-aghabary et al., 2005) and wheat (Ashraf et al., 2002; Hussain et al., 2018), where salt stress unfavorably affects chlorophyll content. The decrease in chlorophyll content might be due to the formation of ROS in salinity stress that leads to lipid peroxidation and damages thylakoid membranes (Hameed et al., 2021). Our results showed that under salinity treatment, Faradarmani CF ameliorated the adverse effects of salt stress, probably by improving antioxidant systems, scavenging ROS and increasing the chlorophyll a and b contents (Figure 1). Similar findings were presented by screening the effect of the Static Magnetic Field (SMF) on pigments in Lettus and it has been reported that all photosynthetic pigments, especially chlorophyll a increased under the influence of SMF and this positive result was associated with improvement of antioxidant system (Latef et al., 2020).

For many years, numerous investigations have been made into salinity stresses and attempt to alleviate detrimental effects of salt stress such as effect of phytohormones, osmoprotectant, antioxidants, polyamines and trace elements (Kamran et al., 2019). For instance, treatment of 2-week-old rice plants under 150 mM NaCl stress with sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄) improved the total biomass and increased the activity of antioxidant enzyme (Subramanyam et al., 2019) or exogenous melatonin pretreatment mitigates salt stress in wheat seedlings through regulation on polyamine metabolism (Ke et al., 2018). In addition, it has been reported that exogenous application of ascorbic acid could alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on wheat plant (Athar et al., 2008; El-Hawary et al., 2023). In this research, for the first time we investigate the effects of Faradarmani CF on wheat plant in order to improve plant tolerance to salinity stress. Although, consciousness field is neither matter nor energy, it is possible to trace its effects with various experimental tests. For instance, the changes in cancer cell growth (Taheri et al., 2020a) and investigation on the electrical activity of the brain during Faradarmani connection in the Faradarmangar population (Taheri et al., 2020b) are other observations that have used this method in research.

Various abiotic stresses, including salinity, contribute to formation of ROS. Therefore, a robust antioxidant system is necessary to manage multiple environmental stressors (Hasanuzzaman et al., 2020; Orsák et al., 2020). Data of this study showed that under salinity conditions there was an increase in H₂O₂ content with Faradarmani CF treatment, which coincided with an increase in SOD activity (about 220%). Similarly, it has been reported that Static Magnetic Field (SMF), induced H₂O₂ content and SOD activity in Matricaria chamomilla (Hassanpour & Niknam, 2020). SOD converts superoxide radicals to H₂O₂ and molecular oxygen. It is possible that increasing H₂O₂ could therefore be attributed to Faradarmani-induced enhancement of SOD activity. This function may have a key role in mitigating oxidative stress. SOD is the first enzyme involved in antioxidative processes (Rubio et al., 2002; Shen et al., 2018). Increasing the activity of SOD was observed similarly in the leaves of sugar beet (Zhang et al., 2021 ) Lycopersicon (Koca et al., 2006), and in wheat (Ahmadi et al., 2020) under salt stress. However, under salinity conditions, Faradarmani CF decreased POX activity, which decomposes the H₂O₂ produced by SOD. Wang et al. (2014) demonstrated that the activity of POX decreased in four wheat cultivars under high temperature (HT) stress and HT-resistant wheat cultivars had higher SOD activity. These results suggest that H₂O₂ may take part in the signaling networks. Generally, ROS can be generated in different cell organelles and in respond to various stimuli. At low to moderate concentration, they have been known as secondary messengers in intracellular signaling cascades (Singh et al., 2022). It has been reported that seed pretreatment with H₂O₂ improves salt tolerance of wheat seedlings by alleviation of oxidative damage and expression of stress proteins (Abdel Latef et al., 2019). Additionally, accumulation of H₂O₂ is thought to be a signal for induction of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes (Chen et al., 1993). Indeed, it contributes to signal transduction, gene expression and cellular defense under oxidative stress conditions. (Dudziak et al., 2019; Kuźniak & Urbanek, 2000).

In the present study, Faradarmani CF also induced PPO activity. PPO may play a key role in scavenging H₂O₂ in salt-stressed plant (Azad et al., 2021). Agarwal & Pandey (2004) found that in Cassia angustifolia PPO activity increased under salinity stress. In wheat, various experiments reported changes in antioxidant enzymes activities to overcome environmental stresses (Ahmadi et al., 2018; Barakat, 2011; Heidari, 2009). The mechanism of action of Faradarmani CF as an inducer of antioxidant enzymes activity is not clear; therefore, future studies are needed to gain additional insights on biological and biochemical effects of this CF on various plants under biotic and abiotic stresses.

MDA content, which is a product of lipid peroxidation, reflects membrane destruction under oxidative stresses (Lhotská et al., 2022). Increase of MDA content under salt stress have been previously observed in different studies (Hasanuzzaman et al., 2014; Tahjib-Ul-Arif et al., 2018; Torabi & Niknam, 2011; Weisany et al., 2012). Mandhania et al., 2006, reported that the better NaCl tolerance in a salt-tolerant cultivar of wheat was associated with lower MDA and much higher activities of antioxidant enzymes compared to salt-sensitive cultivar. Faradarmani as a CF decreased MDA content under salinity stress. It seems that decreased MDA content is correlated with increased activity of antioxidant enzymes under the influence of Faradarmani CF and a strategy developed by plant to withstand salt stress.

Although most research on consciousness has primarily focused on humans, there have been descriptions of various levels and concepts of consciousness, particularly in non-human mammals due to their close phylogenetic relations with humans (Le Neindre et al., 2017). Moreover, it has been said that if ‘intelligence’ be defined as the ability to address problems via behavioral interactions with the environment, plants and even microorganisms can be considered as cognitive creatures that exhibit intelligent behavior (LeDoux, 2023).

For example, plants possess an information-processing capacity that permits them to control their movement in response to stimuli. They can anticipate light and dark cycle even in the absence of direct solar signals, so what makes this possible is having memory that enables them to retain information for several days (Chamovitz, 2020). On the other hand, opponents are of the opinion that there is not sufficient scientific evidence to prove plant consciousness (Mallatt et al., 2021). According to Taheri, plants possess an intrinsic mind allowing them to process the information and interact suitably with their environment to remain alive. In this study, the demonstrated enhanced resistance observed in the Faradarmani-treated samples offers that they may have received information upon being exposed to this treatment.

From these results, it can be concluded that Faradarmani CF minimizes the negative effects of salt stress in the wheat plant with evidence of increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, increased chlorophyll content and less membrane damage. The main challenge of this study is the fact that Consciousness Field doesn’t possess a quantity and isn’t directly measurable. Therefore, in order to identify its specific effects, we have measured Faradarmani CF effects indirectly on a plant’s biochemical processes. We suggest that other researchers repeat similar experiment with different plants. It seems that botanical bioassays are suitable for screening the effect of such treatments, and apart from the placebo responses by humans, these assays can be beneficial to save time and resources.