The effect of strong microwave electric field radiation on: (1) vegetable seed germination and seedling growth rate

Abstract

The effect of high power microwave (HPM) irradiation on seed germination and seedlings was evaluated. Vegetable seeds were subjected to HPM irradiation. The main focus was on the thermal heating elimination during seeds irradiation. For that reason short high frequency microwave pulses were used. The study object was seeds of different harvest years (2000, 2003 and 2008) of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) variety 'Babtų žara', tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) variety 'Viltis', carrot (Daucus sativus Rohl.) variety 'Vaiguva' and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) variety 'Red Cherry' (seeds harvested in 1980). In the first experiment, all seeds were exposed to microwaves at 9.3 GHz frequency for 10 min. In the second experiment, carrots 'Vaiguva' seeds (11 years-old) were exposed to microwaves at 9.3 GHz frequency for 5 and 20 min and exposed to 2.6 and 5.7 GHz microwaves for 10 min. To establish microwave effect on seedling growth rate, tomato, carrot and radish seeds harvested in 2008 were exposed to microwaves at 9.3 GHz frequency for 10 min. It was established that 11 year-old radish seeds exposed to 9.3 GHz microwaves had higher germination as compared with non-irradiated seeds. HPM increased radish germination energy by 6% in seeds harvested in 2003. HPM exposure significantly increased the germination energy and germination of 8 year-old carrot seeds. The highest carrot seed germination was established at 9.3 GHz microwave frequency under 5 min exposure. Seed exposure to HPM (9.3 GHz) had a significant positive effect on dry weight of tomato seedling shoots and on tomato and radish seedling height, but it had negative influence on carrot seedling height. Seed irradiation with HPM (9.3 GHz) had a significant positive effect on the amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophylls a + b and carotenoids in tomato seedlings' fresh mass, but the opposite effect was determined in carrot seedlings' fresh mass.

Pulsed electromagnetic field – a cultivation practice used to increase soybean seed germination and yield

“…Besides the favourable effect on seed germination, some authors detected a positive effect on seed yield. The effect of the treatment depends on the year, exposure duration and frequency, which is in accordance with the results of Radzevičius et al (2013) who also included hybrid type and geomagnetic conditions as prerequisites for the success of this presowing treatment. However, significant differences occurred in analysis of the correlation between the year of study and exposure time.…”

“…The effect of PEMF on soybean seed germination depended on the year (A), duration of exposure (B) and frequency (C), and year-by-duration of exposure interaction (A × B), year-by-frequency interaction (A × C) and exposure interaction-by-frequency interaction (B × C) ( Table 1). The main indicators of good seed quality are germination and vigour (Radzevičius et al, 2013). The number of plants per surface unit in field conditions is one of the major yield components (Liu et al, 2010).…”

Biochemical Parameters in Tomato Fruits from Different Cultivars as Functional Foods for Agricultural, Industrial, and Pharmaceutical Uses

“…However, a high amount of this antioxidant for human could be painful and cause adverse effect. Thus, the precise determination of ascorbic acid in various plant species or cultivars is very important [21][22][23][24][25]. There seems to be little doubt that acids and sugar not only contribute to the sweetness and sourness of tomatoes but are also major factors in overall flavour intensity.…”

“…There is a wide variation of ascorbic acid content in different cultivars. According to Mathews, the vitamin C values for 41 cultivars ranged from 10.7 to 20.9 mg 100 g -1 (23). Ten years of data presented by a Lithuanian scientist showed that the average amount of ascorbic acid was 16.20 mg 100 g -1 in different tomato cultivars [36].…”

Research regarding the impact of cold plasma treatment applied to wheat crop seeds

“…Radish seeds harvested exposed to 9.3 GHz microwaves had higher germination compared with non-irradiated seeds. High power microwaves increased radish germination energy by 6% (RADZEVIČIUS [4]).…”