Germination of tomato seeds (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) under magnetic field
More details
Hide details
1
Departament of Physics and Mechanics, College of Agricultural Engineering, Technical University, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
2
Environmental, Rural and Marine Ministry, Spanish Office of Vegetable Varieties, Madrid, Spain
Int. Agrophys. 2009, 23(1): 44-50
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Magnetic field is an inescapable factor for plants on the Earth; however its impact on plants growth is not well understood. Magnetic and electromagnetic treatments are being used in agriculture, as a non invasive technique, to improve the germination of seeds and increase crops and yields. The effects of a stationary magnetic field on the germination and initial stages of growth of tomato seeds (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) have been studied. The seeds were exposed to a magnetic field strength (125 or 250 mT) for different time as different treatments (doses D1 to D12). To evaluate germination number of germinated seeds (G), mean germination time (MGT), and the time required for 1 to 90% of the seeds to germinate (T1, T10, T25, T50, T75, and T90) were determined. Parameter T10, which is closely related to the early germination and latent period of seeds, was reduced when seeds were exposed to a magnetic field. The MGT was also reduced compared to control when seeds were exposed to magnetic field The germination parameters recorded for each treatment were lower than corresponding control values, then germination rate of treated seeds is higher than the control.