The Effects of External Qì 气 on Growth of Shoots of Dahlia Brevis in Vitro

Abstract – The effects of the emission of qì 气 by a Zhìnéng qigōng 智能气功 instructor on the growth of shoots of Dahlia brevis in tissue culture was studied. With a total population of eighty shoots, the control group and the experimental group were randomly formed. The experimental group received qì for 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 5 weeks. The length of the shoots was measured; the number of shoots that developed roots was recorded; the number of depressions presented by the culture medium was documented and the data were statistically analyzed. The experimental group did not present statistically significant difference in the length of the shoots in relation to the control group. However, the average length of the shoots of the experimental group was greater than that of the control group. The number of shoots that developed roots of the experimental group was almost double compared to the control group. The shoots treated with qì formed thicker and more abundant roots and presented a better-defined plant shape. The emission of qì also seemed to influence the culture medium, decreasing the number of depressions formed in the experimental group.
Keywords – Dahlia, External qì 气, Plants in danger of extinction, Tissue culture, Zhìnéng qìgōng 智能气功.