The Use of Physical Factors for Seed Quality Improvement of Horticultural Plants

Abstract

Due to the common trend towards limitation of excessive use of chemicals in agriculture, there is a growth of interest in methods of seed quality improvement that would be safe for the environment. These include methods based on the effect of various physical factors, such as laser light, magnetic field, seed treatment with magnetized water, electric field. The work provides detailed information on the impact of seed stimulation of these factors on germination, growth, development and yielding of horticultural plants. Summarizing the results of the study, it can be concluded that the application of physical factors in appropriate doses can be an effective way to enhance many plant parameters that increase their productivity. The beneficial effects of seed stimulation are mainly related to the first stages of plant life, i.e. – germination, emergence and growth of seedlings. In many cases, the enhancement of these features is also the result of the increase of plant yields. The increase of yield is even several dozen percent. The results of the study encourage the implementation of these physical methods of seed quality improvement into agricultural and horticultural practice.

Impact of Pre-Sowing Red Light Treatment of Sweet Corn Seeds on the Quality and Quantity of Yield

“…Once harvested, corn seeds undergo various treatments to improve their quality, including priming, granulating (coating), and conditioning. At the same time, due the excessive use of chemicals in agriculture, there is a growing demand for eco-friendly food produce [5]. Consumers want their food Agriculture 2020, 10, 165 2 of 10 products to be safe and healthy.…”

“…The energy facilitates the process of sprouting as well as the subsequent growth and development of plants. Despite the recent scientific and technological advances in this area, the exact mechanism of laser light's effect on seeds has yet to be fully explained [5,11,17].…”

Involvement of Photoprotective Compounds of a Phenolic Nature in the Response of Arabidopsis Thaliana Leaf Tissues to Low‐Intensity Laser Radiation

“…Although the mechanisms of the effect of low‐intensity laser radiation on plants are still debated, this type of radiation is quite widely used in agriculture (at present, along with LED light) for the stimulation of processes of growth and development in plants. The fact of such positive stimulation under certain conditions is considered to be proved (5–9). As far as seeds are concerned, primary and long‐term effects of their laser pretreatment are widely discussed (10–15).…”

Influence of Electromagnetic Stimulation of Seeds on the Photosynthetic Indicators in Medicago sativa L. Leaves at Various Stages of Development

“…Specifically, the light's wavelength falls within the far-red range, which is very significant for physiology in the processes of phytochrome activation. In turn, changes of the photochromic forms (Pr and Pfr) stimulate certain important life processes in plants (e.g., seed germination or plant growth and development) [34,35]. Agrophysical lasers utilize light energy to aid plants in chemically converting the energy absorbed and stored in the seeds.…”

“…Nonetheless, laser stimulation can demonstrably increase plant bioenergetic potential, which results in higher levels of photochromic activation stimulating biochemical and physiological processes [14,37]. The Earth is a natural source of an alternating magnetic field constantly affecting living organisms, with the field's intensity depending on the particular latitude (within the range from 0 to 67 µT) [35,38]. One of the current theories evokes to the process observed by Aksenov et al [39], where under the influence of a low frequency magnetic field, release of the esterase enzyme was observed in swelling wheat seeds, connected with their quiescence.…”