The Effect of Microwave Treatment on Germination and Health of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) Seeds

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of microwave treatment on seed germination and health of carrot seeds using two seed lots naturally infected with the pathogens Alternaria dauci and A. radicina. Seeds of cv. Amsterdam and cv. Berlikumer varied in seed germination at the final count (50% and 29%, respectively), and seed infestation with A. radicina (38% and 5%, respectively). For treatment, seeds were placed in a Petri dish (dry treatment) or in a beaker with distilled water (wet treatment) and irradiated at power output levels 500, 650 and 750 W for 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 s. Germination and health were determined in treated and untreated (control) seed samples. Wet treatment controlled seed-borne fungi more efficiently than dry treatment. However, the exposure duration longer than 60 s frequently resulted in deterioration of seed germination. The highest seed germination in cv. Amsterdam was observed after microwave wet treatment at power output levels of 500 W for 75 s (81%), 650 W for 45 s (85%), and 750 W for 60 s (77%), whereas in the case of cv. Berlikumer this occurred when wet seeds were treated at 500 and 650 W for 60 s (46% and 43% respectively). Treating seeds soaked in water with microwaves for a period longer than 30 s, regardless of the power output, significantly decreased seed infestation with Alternaria spp. in both samples.

Ozone treatment inactivates common bacteria and fungi associated with selected crop seeds and ornamental bulbs

“…The better performance of O 3 sterilization in water-soaked seeds than dry seeds may also be due to the cellular activation of fungal spores and bacteria by increased humidity which might result in O 3 sensitivity. Similarly, a better performance of fungal sterilization by microwave treatment in water-soaked seeds was reported ( Mangwende et al, 2020 , Szopińska and Dorna, 2021 , Cavalcante and Muchovej, 1993 ).…”

Liver tissues oxidative status, epigenetic and molecular characteristics in rats administered magnetic and microwave treated water

“…As a consequence, the speed and/or direction of biochemical reactions is modified 23 . Cell treatment with and without water is different as described by Szopińska and Dorna 24 . In addition, the different results show that water "the different factor in two experiment" had an obvious effect on the living cell.…”

Seed Health Treatments in Organic Seed Production

“…Thermotherapy is one of the oldest methods of heat treatments of seeds, but due to many practical limitations, it has never been widely used in conventional agriculture for control of seed-borne fungi. On the other hand, the progress in organic agriculture aroused interest in methods of physical seed treatments, such as thermotherapy, including the use of hot water, hot humid air, and microwave radiation (Szopińska and Dorna, 2021). According to Spadaro et al (2017) physical treatments encompass mechanical treatments (sorting progress of organic farming and brushing), heat treatments (warm water, aerated steam or hot air), ultrasonic treatments and radiations (with microwaves resulting in higher temperatures), UV-C light and redox treatments as with cold plasma and electrons.…”

“…There are no effects on dried samples because of the lack of polar molecules, while those in the presence of water can reach lethal temperatures (Gartshore et al, 2021). Szopińska and Dorna (2021) recorded the highest seed germination (81%, 85% and 77%) in carrot cultivar Amsterdam when the microwave wet treatment at power output levels of 500 W, 650 W and 750 W was applied for 75 s 45 s 60 s, respectively. On the other hand, corresponding values of 46% and 43% were recorded in carrot seeds of cultivar Berlikumer when treated for 60 s at 500 and 650 W, respectively.…”