Experimental investigation of thermal an‎d non-thermal effects of electromagnetic waves on biological activity an‎d plant growth

1/1/1900 12:00:00 AM

This study experimentally investigated the thermal an‎d non-thermal effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the germination process, biochemical activities an‎d early growth of rapeseed (Brassica napus) seeds under fully controlled laboratory conditions. All treatments were carried out using a custom-designed an‎d built electromagnetic system capable of generating static an‎d alternating magnetic fields with varying intensities an‎d time intervals. In this study, seeds an‎d seedlings were exposed to static magnetic fields with intensities of 5, 10, 15, 50, 100 an‎d 150 mT, an‎d their irradiation times were set to 5, 10 an‎d 15 minutes, respectively. In some treatments, a magnetic priming process was used, in which dry seeds were exposed to a magnetic field before the soaking step to investigate the potential effects on improving germination an‎d growth. In addition, groups were also irradiated with alternating magnetic fields with frequencies of 30, 60 an‎d 90 Hz, which simulate the conditions of dynamic fields an‎d may activate more complex mechanisms of biological an‎d physical interactions in plants. Physiological an‎d biochemical parameters including germination percentage, root an‎d shoot length, fresh an‎d dry weight, as well as the concentration of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, total phenolic compounds an‎d total proteins were comprehensively an‎d accurately eva‎luated. The results indicate that some specific combinations of radiation intensity an‎d duration, especially the magnetic field with an intensity of 100 mTesla an‎d a time of 10 minutes, significantly increased growth indices an‎d biochemical responses. Also, significant positive effects were observed in treatments with lower intensity that were applied as priming before planting. These findings support the hypothesis that magnetic fields are able to regulate plant growth processes at early stages in a way that goes beyond purely thermal effects, possibly acting through the activation of specific biological an‎d molecular pathways.

تحريك غيرگرمايي، جوانه‌زني، پرايمينگ مغناطيسي

Non-thermal stimulation, germination, magnetic priming

alireza pouraghajan

Dr Chaldavi