Abdulhakeem D. Hussien; Gazi M. Aziz; Khalid F. Al-Rawi
Abstract
In latest years in agricultural sector, physical techniques based on magnetic field are being designed. The present work studied the impact of magnetic field on the germination of fresh ...
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In latest years in agricultural sector, physical techniques based on magnetic field are being designed. The present work studied the impact of magnetic field on the germination of fresh and partially-aged Panicum miliaceum L. (PM) seeds. The germinated PM seeds were categorized into 6 groups. Groups 1,2 and 3 were fresh seeds, and Groups 4, 5 and 6 (LV30%) were left for 6 days to lose about 30% of their viabilityLV30% seeds. Groups 1 and 4 were normal unexposed seeds. Groups 2 and 5 were seeds exposed to magnetic field intensity of 100mT, while those of 3 and 6 to 200mT for 60 minutes. Germination was monitored on days 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 and 16. The effect of magnetic field on the % germination, growth characteristics of radical and shoot, protein concentration and peroxidase activity in fresh and LV30%were studied. Both the exposed and unexposed seeds lost their viability by 16 days of ageing in fresh and 14 days in (LV30%). Exposed seeds to magnetic fields 100 and 200 mT revealed significant increase in the length of root and shoot compared to normal unexposed seeds. The magnetically exposed aged seeds had significantly higher protein than in the unexposed aged seeds. The peroxidase activity decreased with ageing and the magnetically exposed seeds showed higher activity than the corresponding aged unexposed normal seeds. The present study suggests the magnetic field could accelerate the germination of PM seeds, accelerate their growth characteristics and increase soluble protein content. In addition the peroxidase activity significantly improved.
