Evaluation of Vegetative Growth Parameters in Biofield Treated Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

The objective of the study was to assess the growth contributing characters of biofield treated bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) seeds. The seeds of both crops were divided into two groups, one was kept aside and denoted as untreated, while the other group was subjected biofield energy treatment. The variabilities in growth contributing parameters were studied and compared with their control. Further the level of glutathione (GSH) in okra leaves, along with DNA fingerprinting in bottle gourd were analyzed using RAPD method. After germination, the plants of bottle gourd were reported to be strong and erect with better canopy as compared with the control. The vegetative growth of okra plants after biofield energy treatment was found to be stout with small canopy, strong steam, and more fruits per nodes, that contributed high yield as compared with the control. However, endogenous level of GSH in the leaves of okra was increased by 47.65% as compared to the untreated group, which may suggest an improved immunity of okra crops. Besides, the DNA fingerprinting data, showed polymorphism (42%) between treated and untreated samples of bottle gourd. The overall results suggest that the biofield energy treatment on bottle gourd and okra seeds, results an improved overall growth of plant and yield, which may enhance flowering and fruiting per plant. Study results conclude that the biofield energy treatment could be an alternate method to improve the crop yield in agricultural science.

The study findings conclude that the biofield energy treatment on bottle gourd and okra showed an improved growth contributing characteristics such as germination, vegetative growth, plant canopy, green, brighter and healthy fruits and leaves as compared to their respective control. Biofield treated okra crops were strong and may contribute to high yield due to more hairs on the fruit, which may help to prevent the insect attack as compared with the control. Further, 47.65% increased level of GSH was reported after biofield treatment, which suggested that crops might be more resistant towards infections and can also contribute better medicinal properties as compared with the control okra. Although, the percentage of true polymorphism was also observed between control and treated bottle gourd seed sample on an average value of 42% using RAPD analysis. Overall, it can be concluded that biofield treatment could be a better future aspect in agricultural research in terms of vegetative growth, overall yield, and their related parameters.