Effect of Magnetic Fields on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Priming of seeds by magnetic fields (magneto priming) is proposed as an ecological, useful and low-priced method for improvement of seed germination and plant emergence. In order to evaluate the germination behavior of sesame seeds affected by magnetic fields, an experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with 22 treatments (non exposure to magnetic fields (control) and 21 magneto priming treatments) with three replications at college of agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2014. Seed of sesame put into a plastic bag bulky and were treated with different intensity of magnetic fields (25, 50, 75 and 100 mili Tesla (mT)) for several times (10, 20, 30, 60 and 120 minutes). For assessment of germination traits of sesame under constant magnetic field conditions, magnetic tapes with three mT strength were used under each Petri dish throughout the experiment. Results showed that magnetic fields had no significant effects on final germination percentage and mean germination time and all magnetic treatments except for 75 mT at 60 minutes indicated reducing effects on germination percentage in comparison to control. Priming of seeds with magnetic fields in 50 mT strength for 20 minutes led to increment of germination rate compared to control treatment but all levels of 100mT treatment caused reduction in germination rate than control. The most radicle length, seedling length and seedling vigor lenght index belong to 75 mT at 60 minutes treatment and the most seedling dry weight and seedling vigor weight index related to 100 mT for 20 minutes treatment. Ranking of treatments showed that exposure of seeds for one hour in 75 mT and 10 minutes in 25 mT magnetic fields strength had the best outcomes.