Electromagnetic application for stimulation of wheat seed germination and early seedling growth

The effects of electromagnetic field treatments of wheat seeds on germination and early seedling growth were studied under controlled conditions. Dried seeds were exposed to magnetic field of strength from 0 to 1.5 T in steps of 0.3 T for different time periods of 5 to 20 min in steps of 5 min. Thereafter, the seeds were incubated for a total period of 7 days to germinate. The germinating seeds were counted every 24 h during the incubation period of 7 days. Germination percentage, mean germination time, vigor index were evaluated. Most of seed treatments resulted in improved germination speed and spread, root and shoot length, seed soluble sugars and a-amylase activity. The results indicated that the effects of treatment depended on strength and period of exposure to magnetic field. Treatment of wheat seeds in these magnetic fields increased mean germination time, seedling length and seedling dry weight. The greatest increases of the various treatments were obtained for plants exposed to 0.3 and 1.2 T for 10 min. The higher enzyme activity in magnetic-field-treated wheat seeds could be triggering the fast germination and early vigor of seedlings. The results suggest that magnetic field treatments of wheat seeds have the potential to enhance germination, early growth and biochemical parameters of seedlings.