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Magneto-Priming: A Novel Technique Towards Improved Seed Germinability

seedling length and dry weight. Further, better performance of magneto-

primed seeds has been recorded under rain-fed conditions as compared to

control (Vashisth & Nagarajan, 2008). In an experiment, Payez et al. (2013)

soaked the wheat seeds in water overnight and then treated them with a 30

mT static magnetic field and 10 kHz of EMF for 5 hours a day and continued

for 4 days. They observed a positive impact of both electromagnetic and

static magnetic exposure on germination parameters and membrane integrity

of seeds during germination.

Further, pulsed electromagnetic field (PMF) exposures on maize (Zea

mays) seeds for various time periods viz., 0, 15, 30, and 45 mins have shown

promotional effects on various germination and morpho-physiological

parameters during seedling growth. It has also indicated that magnetic expo­

sure for 30 and 45 mins would result in higher crop yield and the possibility

of exploitation of magnetic fields as modern agricultural tools towards the

economical development of farmers (Bilalis et al., 2012). Arecent experiment

also supports the beneficial effect of magneto-priming on maize (Zea mays)

under salt stress conditions. The experimental design for seed pretreatment

had been established by 200 mT of SMF for a period of 1 hour. The primed

seeds showed a significant enhancement in germination percentage and stress

tolerance with promotional effects on other growth and development related

parameters (Baghel et al., 2019). Later on, Alvarez et al. (2021) observed the

impact of SMF on Triticale seeds under osmotic and saline stress conditions

while the seeds were treated with 3.71 mT of SMF for 10 hours against

the control. This experiment yielded improved mean germination time and

time required for 50% emergence. The effects of electromagnets on tomato

(Solanum lycopersicum) cv. Lignon were studied by pretreatment of seeds

to various combinations of rectified electromagnets, i.e., 80, 120, 160, and

200 mT for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mins. The results indicated that there

was an increase in germination percentage with a decline in time required to

germinate, increase in shoot, and root length under combined exposure of 1

min each to magnetic fields of 160 mT and 200 mT (De Souza et al., 2010).

Further, Poinapen et al. (2013) reported that pre-exposure of seeds to MF

resulted in an increase in germination percentage and plant growth. Further,

soybean seeds (Glycine max) recorded a significantly higher germination rate

when the seeds were pre-treated with a magnetic field of 0.002 mT at 10 and

100 Hz for 5 hours/day for 20 days (Radhakrishnan & Kumari, 2013). The

pulsed EMF also has several promotional effects on broad beans including

germination percentage. When seeds were primed with 12.5 mT pulsed EMF

with 3 Hz frequency for 15 minutes, the germination percentage increased