Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Electromagnetic seed treatment increases germination of Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm med./bio.

By: Maronek DM

Published in: HortScience 1975; 10 (3): 227-228

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of an electromagnetic field on seed dormancy and germination of golden-rain tree.

Background/further details

Golden-rain tree seed has an impermeable testa which can be overcome by acid scarification and requires cold stratification to overcome embryo dormancy. The following seed treatments were performed: 1) control treatment of acid scarification followed by 84 days of cold stratification; 2) either acid scarification (A), cold stratification for 21, 42, 63, or 84 days (B) or electromagnetic field exposure (C) alone; 3) electromagnetic field treatment applied either before or after an A or B treatment; 4) all possible combinations of A, B, and C. Each treatment was replicated five times with 20 seeds per test.

Endpoint

effects on plants (germination and dormancy)

Exposure

- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: unspecified Exposure duration: continuous for 4.3 s	magnetic flux density: 10 mT

General information

seeds were treated in four groups: i) control = treatment of acid scarification followed by 84 days of cold stratification ii) either acid scarification (A) or cold stratification (C) or electromagnetic treatment (M) iii) M applied either before or after A or C treatment iv) all possible combinations of A, C and M

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	unspecified
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 4.3 s

Exposure setup

Exposure source	seed energizer machine

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	10 mT	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

plant
golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on plants (germination and dormancy; evaluation of germinated seed (seedling length at least 2 cm))

Investigated system:

germinated seed

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Germination of more than 10% occurred only when scarification was followed by cold stratification as expected. Seed germination following scarification was directly proportional to time in cold stratification. Magnetic field treatment applied after both acid scarification and cold stratification did not significantly improve germination as compared to the control (AB). When the electromagnetic field was applied between scarification and 21, 42, 63, or 84 days of cold stratification, germination increased although the effect was significant only at the last two periods. After 84 days of cold stratification, germination was 97% with the electromagnetic treatment as compared to 56% obtained with the control (AB). Seed exposure to the electromagnetic field prior to the conventional AB sequence inhibited germination.
The author concludes that an electromagnetic field treatment of 100 Gauss will partially substitute for cold stratification and significantly increase seed germination of golden-rain tree. These findings suggest that seed exposure to an electromagnetic field increases germination through an unknown effect on the cold-requiring reaction.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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