Magnetotropism
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Magnetotropism
the bending of the stem or root of a plant as it grows under the effect of a natural or artificial permanent magnetic field. The direction of magnetotropism is determined by the physiological peculiarities of the plant and by its attitude with respect to the vector of magnetic field intensity. For example, the primary root of corn bends during growth toward the south magnetic pole, but the root of garden cress bends in the direction of the magnetic field gradient. Magnetotropism determines the orientation of the root systems of some agricultural plants, such as wheat, oats, sugar beets, and radishes.
REFERENCE
Krylov, A. V., and G. A. Tarakanova. “lavlenie magnitotropizma u rastenii i ego priroda.” Fiziologiia rastenii, 1960, vol. 7, fasc. 2, pp. 191-97.The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.