Pre-sowing seed magnetic field treatment influence on germination, seedling growth and enzymatic activities of melon ( Cucumis melo L.)

Effect of Magnetic and Electrical Fields on Yield, Shelf Life and Quality of Fruits

The presented article is a review of the literature reports on the influence of magnetic and electric fields on the growth, yield, ripening, and durability of fruits and their quality. The article shows the potential application of MF and EF in agricultural production. Magnetic and electrical fields increase the shelf life of the fruit and improve its quality. Alternating magnetic fields (AMF) with a value of 0.1–200 mT and a power frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz improve plant growth parameters. MF cause an increase in firmness, the rate of maturation, the content of beta-carotene, lycopene, and fructose, sugar concentration, and a reduction in acidity and respiration. The most common is a high-voltage electric field (HVEF) of 2–3.61 kV/cm. These fields extend the shelf life and improve the quality of fruit by decreasing respiration rate and ethylene production. The presented methods seem to be a promising way to increase the quantity and quality of crops in agricultural and fruit production. They are suitable for extending the shelf life of fruit and vegetables during their storage. Further research is needed to develop an accessible and uncomplicated way of applying MF and AEF in agricultural and fruit production.

Effect of Extremely Low Power Time-Varying Electromagnetic Field on Germination and Other Characteristics in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica) Seeds

The ability of extremely low, time-varying electromagnetic field (EMF) to improve germination efficacy was studied in Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) seeds using response surface methodology. An optimal factorial central composite design was chosen to optimize the EMF with three critical factors, viz. frequency, intensity, and duration. The adequacy of the model and fitness was evaluated by analysis of variance and regression coefficients. This model suggested that the factors, frequency, and intensity had a significant impact on germination. Optimal conditions for germination were observed to be 10 Hz frequency, 30,007 nT intensity, and 30-min duration with an observed germination percentage of 93.0, and a predicted germination percentage of 92.92. Magneto-priming was found to increase the germination efficacy (15.66%), shoot length (27.78%), total seedling length (20.30%), seedling dry mass (26.49%), and water uptake (34.48% at 80 min) showing significant output when compared with the control and positive controls. Remarkable improvements were observed in germination parameters such as vigor index-1 (39.14%), vigor index-2 (46.28%), speed of germination (27.52%), and emergence index (12.50%). Magneto-priming was found to reduce the levels of germination-specific enzymes, viz. α-amylase, protease, and dehydrogenase, while it enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes, viz. catalase (114.63%) and superoxide dismutase (19.62%), triggering fast germination and early vigor of seedlings. This study clearly showed that EMF priming significantly improved the germination effect and other characteristics of Foxtail millet seeds. Bioelectromagnetics. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Impact of magnetically treated water on the growth and development of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Turkish)

Magnetism is one of the physical methods affecting water properties. It is considered as an environmental factor that plays a role in the physiological and biochemical reactions. A hydroponic experiment was conducted using four types of treated water (distilled water, magnetically treated distilled water, magnetically treated tap water, and tap water). Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum var. Turkish) were placed in a growth chamber for three weeks. Plants irrigated with magnetically treated distilled water had a significant increase in the physiological parameters including shoot height and root length (P < 0.0001). The same pattern was seen in the photosynthetic rate and protein content, but no significant differences in the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate (P < 0.5601). In contrast, a significant increase of total carbohydrate content was exhibited in plant irrigated with tap water (P < 0.0064). Electron micrographs showed deformed chloroplasts with damaged thylakoid membranes associated with plastoglobules in plants irrigated with tap water and magnetically treated tap water. Lastly, this study suggests that magnetically treated water is an excellent option to improve irrigation methods and thus obtains agricultural production with high efficiency.

The effects of the electromagnetic fields on the biochemical components, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems of tea Camellia sinensis L

The electromagnetic fields (EMFs) by wide range of the frequency spectrum, have capability to cause crucial alternation and deleterious effects in biological systems. The aim of the present study is to assay the biochemical components, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems of the electromagnetic fields treated samples of tea which is the most ancient non-alcoholic drink, containing different types of flavonols. Rutin, Quercetin, Myricetin, and Kaempferol as flavonoid components markers are also to be analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The results show that The EMF's treatments brought about distinct alternations in biochemical components of tea, so that regardless of the intensity of the EMF's, less duration of exposure (30 min) caused more content of those mentioned flavonoid components (except Myricetin) than that of 60 min of exposure. A 30 min of 4 miliTesla (mT) exposure of the EMF's, resulted in the highest amount of Rutin, Quercetin, Myricetin, and Kaempferol. It is concluded that less duration of the EMF's treatments induces more production and also accumulation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant components. In higher intensity of the EMF's (more than 4 mT), the concentrations of the mentioned biochemical components decreased.

PRODUÇÃO DE MUDAS DE ALFACE EM RESPOSTA AO USO DE ÁGUA TRATADA MAGNETICAMENTE

Nos últimos anos tem sido crescente as pesquisas científicas de inovação e tecnologia agrícola a respeito da ação do campo magnético sob a germinação e desenvolvimento de plantas. Diante do exposto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o desenvolvimento inicial de mudas de alface (Lactuca Sativa L.) com uso de água tratada magneticamente e não tratada (controle). O experimento foi realizado em bandejas de 120 células, sendo a parcela constituída por 12 células com 10 repetições, onde foram testados os tratamentos água tratada magneticamente e não tratada. Foram realizadas medições semanais de comprimento da parte aérea e quando as mudas atingiram 24 dias após germinadas, retirou-as das bandejas e avaliou-se os seguintes parâmetros: comprimento da parte aérea, massa seca da parte aérea, comprimento da raiz e massa seca da raiz. Nas condições de tempo de exposição e força do magnetizador, o uso da água magnetizada é benéfica para o alface e provavelmente para outras culturas. Em particular, para a alface, os resultados revelam que a irrigação com água tratada magneticamente é eficiente para obter-se mudas de alface com maior volume de biomassa na parte aérea e raiz.

Seed pretreatment with magnetic field alters the storage proteins and lipid profiles in harvested soybean seeds

The increase in crop productivity is an urgent need of the time to reduce scarcity of food in underdeveloped countries. Several biological, chemical and physical methods have been applied to promote crop yield. Application of magnetic field (MF) is an emerging physical method used to increase plant growth and yield. The reports on MF pretreatment-induced nutritional changes in harvested seeds are scarce. We previously identified the optimal frequency of MF to improve plant growth and yield as 1500 nT at 10.0 Hz. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of MF treatment on storage proteins and fatty acids in harvested soybean seeds. The results showed that MF triggered globulin production and suppressed prolamin production. However, lipid content in seeds increased, because MF exposure caused an elevation of several fatty acids including caprylic acid, palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, lignoceric acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. This is the first report to reveal the seed pretreated MF on nutritional values of harvested seeds. This study suggests that MF treatment improves seed quality by regulating the metabolism of storage proteins and fatty acids.

Comparison of HeNe laser and sinusoidal non-uniform magnetic field seed pre-sowing treatment effect on Glycine max (Var 90-I) germination, growth and yield

Recently, laser and magnetic field pre-sowing seed treatments attracted the attention of the scientific community in response to their positive effect on plant characteristics and the present study was exemplified for Glycine max Var 90-I. Seeds were exposed to laser (HeNe-wave length 632nm and density power of 1mW/cm2) and magnetic field (sinusoidal non-uniform-50, 75 and 100mT for 3, 5min with exposure) and seed germination, seedling growth and yield attributes were compared. The germination (mean germination, germination percentage, emergence index, germination speed, relative germination coefficient, emergence coefficient of uniformity) growth (root dry weight, root length, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight, leaf dry & fresh weight, root fresh weight, leaf area, shoot length, plant total dry weight at different stages, stem diameter, number of leaves, vigor index I & II), biochemical (essential oil) and yield attributes (seed weight, count) were enhanced significantly in response to both laser and magnetic field treatments. However, magnetic field treatment furnished slightly higher response versus laser except relative water contents, whole plant weight and shoot length. Results revealed that both laser and magnetic field pre-sowing seed treatments affect the germination, seedling growth, and yield characteristics positively and could possibly be used to enhance Glycine max productivity.

Laser light and magnetic field stimulation effect on biochemical, enzymes activities and chlorophyll contents in soybean seeds and seedlings during early growth stages

Laser and magnetic field bio-stimulation attracted the keen interest of scientific community in view of their potential to enhance seed germination, seedling growth, physiological, biochemical and yield attributes of plants, cereal crops and vegetables. Present study was conducted to appraise the laser and magnetic field pre-sowing seed treatment effects on soybean sugar, protein, nitrogen, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) ascorbic acid (AsA), proline, phenolic and malondialdehyde (MDA) along with chlorophyll contents (Chl "a" "b" and total chlorophyll contents). Specific activities of enzymes such as protease (PRT), amylase (AMY), catalyst (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxides (POD) were also assayed. The specific activity of enzymes (during germination and early growth), biochemical and chlorophyll contents were enhanced significantly under the effect of both laser and magnetic pre-sowing treatments. Magnetic field treatment effect was slightly higher than laser treatment except PRT, AMY and ascorbic acid contents. However, both treatments (laser and magnetic field) effects were significantly higher versus control (un-treated seeds). Results revealed that laser and magnetic field pre-sowing seed treatments have potential to enhance soybean biological moieties, chlorophyll contents and metabolically important enzymes (degrade stored food and scavenge reactive oxygen species). Future study should be focused on growth characteristics at later stages and yield attributes.