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Magneto-Priming: A Novel Technique Towards Improved Seed Germinability

MF include a decrease in cell growth, an increase in lignin and suberin on

cell walls, or a decrease in seed germination and organ growth (Sahebjamei

et al., 2007).

Thus, it is now well established that all living beings including plants

are always being exposed to the Earth’s MF. However, unlike phototropism,

gravitropism, and thigmotropism of plants that describe plant’s response

to various wavelengths of light, gravity, and touch or electrical signaling,

respectively, the influence of MF on plant growth and development is not

thoroughly studied or not well-understood. Under this context, the present

chapter has been conceived to summarize the possibility of exploiting

magneto-priming as a novel, safe, and cost-effective seed enhancement tech­

nique. Further, it intends to elucidate the current state of understanding of

the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind the magneto-priming­

induced alternation in plant systems.

5.2 MAGNETO-PRIMING AND PLANT RESPONSES

The Earth’s magnetic (i.e., geomagnetic) field is an inevitable environmental

factor, and it varies significantly in strength and direction that keeps changing

with the location. While the majority of the MF found on the Earth’s surface

has an internal source and it is primarily caused by the dynamo motion of

turbulent flows in the planet’s fluid metallic exterior core while the external

MF due to ionosphere and magnetosphere plays a minor role (Qamili et

al., 2013). The existence of a geomagnetic field helps to protect our planet

and its environment from the influence of solar storm by bouncing most

of the charged particles via the magnetosphere (Occhipinti et al., 2014). At

the Earth’s surface, the highest strength of vertical extension (67 μT) and

horizontal extension (33 μT) of GMF is found at the magnetic pole and the

magnetic equator, respectively (Kobayashi et al., 2004). Besides the exis­

tence of the Earth’s magnetic field, the significant presence of a magnetic

field has also been detected in and around all other celestial objects like

galaxies (≤ 0.1 nT), close to the sun (0.21 nT) and the surface of Venus is

3 nT (Belov & Bochkarev, 1983). The geomagnetic field has certain conse­

quences on the living organisms since all living components of the Earth are

constantly being exposed to the inescapable geomagnetic field, and it has

been reported that relatively low intensity of magnetic field can effectively

stimulate or trigger plant growth responses. This indicates that the influence

of the Earth’s magnetic field on biological processes is not only debatable

rather an interesting area of research. Therefore, studies on the impact of