ENHANCEMENT OF ZINNIA SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE THROUGH MAGNETIC SEED STIMULATION
Irfan Afzal
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PakistanKarim Yar Abbasi
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PakistanAzma Iqbal
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PakistanAdnan Younis
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PakistanMuhammad Amir Bakhtavar
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PakistanHafeez Ur Rehman
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PakistanAbstract
Poor seed germination is a main hindrance to the commercial cultivation of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.). Seed enhancement is a useful strategy to improve germina-tion of major agronomic and horticultural crops. A lab study was conducted to investigate the potential of magnetic seed stimulation as a seed enhancement tool and its influence on germination and emergence capacity of zinnia. Magnetic seed treatment with 50, 100 and 150 mT strength each for 5, 10 and 15 min was compared with control (untreated). Mag-netic seed stimulation reduced time to 50% germination and mean germination time and increased final germination percentage, germination energy and germination index. Root length, shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weight was also increased as a result of mag-netic seed stimulation. Furthermore, magnetic field treatment also enhanced α-amylase activity, total soluble sugars and reducing sugars levels. Among all seed treatments, mag-netic field with strength of 100 mT for 15 min was the most effective physical treatment for improving seed germination and seedling growth of zinnia.
Keywords:
Zinnia elegans, magnetic seed stimulation, germination, biochemical analysisReferences
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Al-Maskri, A., Kharr, M.M., AI-Mantheri, O., Al-Habs, K. (2002). Effect of accelerated aging on lipid peroxidation, leakage and seedling vigor (rgr) in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds. Pak. J Agri. Sci., 39(4), 330–337.
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Belyavskaya, N.A. (2004). Biological effects due to weak magnetic field on plants. Adv. Space Res., 34, 1566–1574.
Bhattacharyya, S., Das, B., Ghose, T.K., Bhattacharya, S. (1999). Investigation on seed germination of Nyctanthes arbortristis (Oleaceae) in relation to the total phenol content. Seed Sci. Technol., 27, 321–327.
Bradford, K.J. (1986). Manipulation of seed water relations via osmotic priming to improve germination under different field conditions. Res. J. Agric. Biol. Sci., 22, 33–37.
Carbonell, M.V., Martinez, E., Amaya, J.M. (2000). Stimulation of germination in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by a static magnetic field. Electro-Magnetobiol., 19, 121–128.
Coolbear, P., McGill, C.R. (1990). Effect of a low temperature pre- sowing treatment on germination of tomato seed under temperature and osmotic stress. J. Hort. Sci., 44, 43–54.
Cumo, C. (2013). Encyclopedia of cultivated plants. From acacia to zinnia. Vol. I. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barba, California, USA. p. 1163–1164.
De Souza, A., Garcia, D., Sueiro, L., Gilart, F., Porras, E., Licea, L. (2006). Pre-sowing magnetic treatments of tomato seeds increase the growth and yield of plants. Bioelectromagnetics, 27, 247–257.
De Souza, A., Sueiro, L., Gonzales, L.M., Licea, L., Porras, E., Gilart, F. (2008). Improvement of the growth and yield of lettuce plants by non-uniform magnetic fields. Electromagn. Biol. Med. 27, 173–184.
Ellis, R.A., Robert, E.H. (1981). The quantification of ageing and survival in orthodox seeds. Seed Sci. Technol., 9, 373–409.
Florez, M., Carbonell, M.V., Martinez, E. (2007). Exposure of maize seeds to stationary magnetic fields effects on germination and early growth. Environ. Exp. Bot., 59, 68–75.
Hirota, N., Nakagawa, K., Kitzwa, K. (1999). Effects of magnetic field on germination of plants. J. Appl. Phys. 85, 5717–5719.
ISTA (2015). International Rules for Seed Testing. International Seed Testing Association, Swit-zerland.
Kavi, P.S. (1983). The effect of non-homogeneous gradient magnetic field susceptibility values in situ ragi seed material. Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 17, 121–123.
Kurinobu, S., Okazaki, Y. (1995). Dielectric constant and conductivity of one seed in Germination process. Ann. Confer. Rec. IEEE/IAS, p.1329–1334.
Moon, J.D., Chung, H.S. (2000). Acceleration of germination of tomato seed applying AC electric and magnetic fields. J. Electrostat., 48, 103–114.
Morar, R., Iuga, A., Dascalescu, L., Munteanu, I. (1993). Electric field influence on the biological processes of seeds. Proceedings of the International Symposium on High-Voltage Engineering, Yokohama, Japan, p. 286.
Podlesny, J., Pietruszewski, S. (2007). The role of magnetic stimulation of seeds in the formation of faba bean plants resistance to water deficit in the soil substrate. Int. Agrophys., 9, 449–458.
Podlesny, J.S., Pietruszewski, S, Podlesna, A. (2005). Influence of magnetic stimulation of seeds on the formation of morphological features and yielding of Pea. Int. Agrophys., 19, 61–68.
Sadasivam, S., Manickam, A. (1992). Biochemical methods for agricultural sciences. Wiley Eastern Limited. New Delhi, p. 5–6.
Soltani, A., Gholipoor, M., Zeinali, E. (2006). Seed reserve utilization and seedling growth of wheat as affected by drought and salinity. Environ. Exp. Bot., 55, 195–200.
Tao, K.L.J., Buta, J.G. (1986). Differential effects of camptothecin and interactions with plant hormones on seed germination and seedling growth. Plant Growth Reg., 4, 219–226.
Taylor, A.G., Allen, P.S., Bennett, M.A., Bradford, K.J, Burris, J.S., Misra, M.K. (1998). Seed enhancements. Seed Sci. Res., 8, 245–256.
Thimmaiah, S.R. (2004). Standard methods of biochemical analysis. Kalyani Press, New Dehli, India.
Varavinit, S., Chaokasem, N., Shobsngob, S. (2002). Immobilization of a thermostable α-amy-lase. Sci. Asia., 28, 247–251.
Vashisth, A., Nagarajan, S. (2010). Effect on germination and early growth scharacteristics in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds exposed to static magnetic field. J. Plant Physiol., 167, 149–156.
Wang, G., Huang, J., Gao, W., Lu, J., Li, J., Liao, R., Jaleel, C.A. (2009). The effect of highvoltage electrostatic field (HVEF) on aged rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds vigor and lipid peroxi-dation of seedlings. J. Electrostat., 67, 759–764.
Yinan, L., Yuan, L., Yongquing, Y., Chunyang, L. (2005). Effect of seed pretreatment by magnetic field on the sensitivity of cucumber (Cucumissativus) seedlings to ultraviolet-B radiation. Environ. Exp. Bot., 54, 286–294.
Aladjadjiyan, A. (2002). Study of the influence of magnetic field on some biological characteris-tics of maize (Zea mays L.). J. Cent. Eur. Agric., 3, 89–94.
Al-Maskri, A., Kharr, M.M., AI-Mantheri, O., Al-Habs, K. (2002). Effect of accelerated aging on lipid peroxidation, leakage and seedling vigor (rgr) in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds. Pak. J Agri. Sci., 39(4), 330–337.
AOSA (1983). Seed vigor testing handbook. Contribution No. 32 to the handbook on seed testing. Association of Official Seed Analysis. Springfield, IL.
Belyavskaya, N.A. (2004). Biological effects due to weak magnetic field on plants. Adv. Space Res., 34, 1566–1574.
Bhattacharyya, S., Das, B., Ghose, T.K., Bhattacharya, S. (1999). Investigation on seed germination of Nyctanthes arbortristis (Oleaceae) in relation to the total phenol content. Seed Sci. Technol., 27, 321–327.
Bradford, K.J. (1986). Manipulation of seed water relations via osmotic priming to improve germination under different field conditions. Res. J. Agric. Biol. Sci., 22, 33–37.
Carbonell, M.V., Martinez, E., Amaya, J.M. (2000). Stimulation of germination in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by a static magnetic field. Electro-Magnetobiol., 19, 121–128.
Coolbear, P., McGill, C.R. (1990). Effect of a low temperature pre- sowing treatment on germination of tomato seed under temperature and osmotic stress. J. Hort. Sci., 44, 43–54.
Cumo, C. (2013). Encyclopedia of cultivated plants. From acacia to zinnia. Vol. I. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barba, California, USA. p. 1163–1164.
De Souza, A., Garcia, D., Sueiro, L., Gilart, F., Porras, E., Licea, L. (2006). Pre-sowing magnetic treatments of tomato seeds increase the growth and yield of plants. Bioelectromagnetics, 27, 247–257.
De Souza, A., Sueiro, L., Gonzales, L.M., Licea, L., Porras, E., Gilart, F. (2008). Improvement of the growth and yield of lettuce plants by non-uniform magnetic fields. Electromagn. Biol. Med. 27, 173–184.
Ellis, R.A., Robert, E.H. (1981). The quantification of ageing and survival in orthodox seeds. Seed Sci. Technol., 9, 373–409.
Florez, M., Carbonell, M.V., Martinez, E. (2007). Exposure of maize seeds to stationary magnetic fields effects on germination and early growth. Environ. Exp. Bot., 59, 68–75.
Hirota, N., Nakagawa, K., Kitzwa, K. (1999). Effects of magnetic field on germination of plants. J. Appl. Phys. 85, 5717–5719.
ISTA (2015). International Rules for Seed Testing. International Seed Testing Association, Swit-zerland.
Kavi, P.S. (1983). The effect of non-homogeneous gradient magnetic field susceptibility values in situ ragi seed material. Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 17, 121–123.
Kurinobu, S., Okazaki, Y. (1995). Dielectric constant and conductivity of one seed in Germination process. Ann. Confer. Rec. IEEE/IAS, p.1329–1334.
Moon, J.D., Chung, H.S. (2000). Acceleration of germination of tomato seed applying AC electric and magnetic fields. J. Electrostat., 48, 103–114.
Morar, R., Iuga, A., Dascalescu, L., Munteanu, I. (1993). Electric field influence on the biological processes of seeds. Proceedings of the International Symposium on High-Voltage Engineering, Yokohama, Japan, p. 286.
Podlesny, J., Pietruszewski, S. (2007). The role of magnetic stimulation of seeds in the formation of faba bean plants resistance to water deficit in the soil substrate. Int. Agrophys., 9, 449–458.
Podlesny, J.S., Pietruszewski, S, Podlesna, A. (2005). Influence of magnetic stimulation of seeds on the formation of morphological features and yielding of Pea. Int. Agrophys., 19, 61–68.
Sadasivam, S., Manickam, A. (1992). Biochemical methods for agricultural sciences. Wiley Eastern Limited. New Delhi, p. 5–6.
Soltani, A., Gholipoor, M., Zeinali, E. (2006). Seed reserve utilization and seedling growth of wheat as affected by drought and salinity. Environ. Exp. Bot., 55, 195–200.
Tao, K.L.J., Buta, J.G. (1986). Differential effects of camptothecin and interactions with plant hormones on seed germination and seedling growth. Plant Growth Reg., 4, 219–226.
Taylor, A.G., Allen, P.S., Bennett, M.A., Bradford, K.J, Burris, J.S., Misra, M.K. (1998). Seed enhancements. Seed Sci. Res., 8, 245–256.
Thimmaiah, S.R. (2004). Standard methods of biochemical analysis. Kalyani Press, New Dehli, India.
Varavinit, S., Chaokasem, N., Shobsngob, S. (2002). Immobilization of a thermostable α-amy-lase. Sci. Asia., 28, 247–251.
Vashisth, A., Nagarajan, S. (2010). Effect on germination and early growth scharacteristics in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds exposed to static magnetic field. J. Plant Physiol., 167, 149–156.
Wang, G., Huang, J., Gao, W., Lu, J., Li, J., Liao, R., Jaleel, C.A. (2009). The effect of highvoltage electrostatic field (HVEF) on aged rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds vigor and lipid peroxi-dation of seedlings. J. Electrostat., 67, 759–764.
Yinan, L., Yuan, L., Yongquing, Y., Chunyang, L. (2005). Effect of seed pretreatment by magnetic field on the sensitivity of cucumber (Cucumissativus) seedlings to ultraviolet-B radiation. Environ. Exp. Bot., 54, 286–294.
Irfan Afzal
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Karim Yar Abbasi
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Azma Iqbal
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Adnan Younis
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Amir Bakhtavar
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Hafeez Ur Rehman
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Seed Physiology Lab, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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