Influence of A.C. electric field on plant growth

Abstract

The influence of AC electric field on the growth of thale cress was studied. The seeds of thale cress were cultivated under two circumstances; one was under the AC 60Hz electric field of 2.5kV/m, and the other was under no electric field. They were grown for four or eight days, and the seed germination rate was counted every day, and stem length was measured on the fourth and the eighth day. We have confirmed the following things; (1) AC electric field accelerates the seed germination of thale cress. (2) The AC electric field accelerates the stem growth of thale cress. These results are similar to the effects of DC electric field on plant growth, however, the effects of the AC field are smaller than those of DC field.