Differential responses of dry and imbibed wheat seeds to static and electromagnetic fields

There are many reports on the effects of magnetic fields on the plants، but the exact mechanisms of these effects are poorly understood. In this study we compared the effects of different magnetic fields on the germination and early growth of wheat seeds. The seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in two groups، dry and imbibed، were treated with static magnetic field (SMF 30mT) and electromagnetic field (EMF 10KHz) for 4 days and 5 hour for a day. After treatment، seed water uptake، the percent and speed of germination، early growth characteristics and electrolyte leakage of seeds coat and seedlings root membrane were estimated. The results showed that treatment with SMF and EMF had not significant effect on the germination percent of imbibed wheat seeds، but accelerated the speed of germination، fresh and dry weight and vigor index II، compared to control groups. In dry wheat group only positive effect of magnetic field had seen on the length of seedlings. Magnetic field treatment decreased the electrolyte leakage of seeds coat and seedlings root membranes; however had not increased the water uptake of seeds. So elevated speed of germination and growth of seedlings probably was due to increase of membrane integrity، content or activity of the germination enzymes or antioxidant enzymes. In general، effects of magnetic field on the imbibed seeds is better than dry seeds and SMF had better effect than EMF on the germination and early growth of wheat seedlings.