The effect of magnetic field pre-treatment on growth and antioxidant enzymes activity of Niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L.F) Cass) plant under drougth stress conditions

In order to improve plant growth of Niger )Guizotia abyssinica (L.F) Cass( under drought stress, an experiment was conducted on its seeds as factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications at the research greenhouse of Shahrekord University in 2015. The first factor was different magnetic field intensities including: 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mT (in 5 minutes period of time) as physically pre-treatment and the second factor was drought stress (2, 4 and 6 day irrigation intervals). The results showed that the effect of the interaction effects of different levels of magnetic field intensity and drought stress were significant on all of the evaluated characteristics. The minimum membrane electrolyte leakage and the maximum ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase enzymes activity and relative water content in 200 mT field intensity under 2 days irrigation intervals, the maximum catalase activity in 100 mT field intensity under 4 days irrigation intervals, the maximum leaf dry weight and root volume in 100 mT field intensity under 2 days irrigation intervals and the maximum flower and root dry weight in 150 mT field intensity under 2 days irrigation intervals were observed. The most evaluated traits showed decreasing trend by increasing irrigation intervals in different magnetic field intensities. Generally, 150 and 200 mT fields intensity for 2 days irrigation intervals, 100 and 150 mT fields intensity for 4 days irrigation intervals, 100 and 200 mT fields intensity for 6 days irrigation intervals were the most effective intensities for improving and increasing the performance of characteristics under drought stress conditions.