Arabidopsis cryptochrome and Quantum Biology: new insights for plant science and crop improvement

Abstract

Arabidopsis is the plant species in which Cryptochrome, the first known flavin-type blue light receptor, was identified after over 100 years of effort. Even beyond their critical importance to plants, Arabidopsis cryptochromes have had a transcendental impact on many other fields due to the occurrence of homologs in animals and even man with many conserved features. Cryptochromes have furthermore contributed to the emerging field of Quantum Biology, which involves the study of quantum physical phenomena in biology and medicine. Quantum theory predicts that magnetic fields can alter the reaction rates (product formation) of biochemical reactions, including those catalyzed by metabolic enzymes or the biological activity of flavoprotein receptors such as cryptochromes. Therefore, electromagnetic fields could theoretically regulate many agronomically important plant processes, as well as those of other organisms. In this communication we briefly summarize the known effects of magnetic fields in biological systems with the view to identifying possible conserved underlying mechanisms with practical applications for plants. Evidence that Arabidopsis cryptochromes could serve as magnetic field sensors will be reviewed, as well as the role of electromagnetic fields in the formation of ROS (reactive oxygen species). In conclusion, we will suggest workable methods to achieve low cost, environmentally friendly, and broadly applicable crop improvement strategies using tools from Quantum Biology that can be implemented today.