Effect of Low Frequency (50Hz) Electromagnetic Field on Germination Process of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Electromagnetic field (EMF) and geomagnetic field (GMF) are inescapable environmental factors experienced by all living organisms including plants. Despite the progresses made in the field of plant-senses, the impact of Electromagnetic field (EMF) and geomagnetic field (GMF) on plant growth and development is not fully explored. In this context influence of exposure intensity and duration of exposure to low frequency (50 Hertz) electromagnetic field produced by a locally designed monoaxial Helmholtz Coil on germination parameters of Triticum aestivum L. (Wheat) has been studied in the present work. Wheat seeds were exposed to magnetic field strengths of 30, 60 and 75 Gauss for different periods of time (10, 20 and 30 minutes) inside the Helmholtz Coil. Control plants were grown under the local geomagnetic field (50 micro Tesla). Germination parameters like mean germination time, germination percentage, co- efficient of germination etc. were calculated for each test condition. Results indicated that among all the test conditions the alternating magnetic field with exposure rate of 60 Gauss/30 minutes found most conducive to Wheat germination which is reported here for the first time. These results are encouraging to work further on the effect of magnetic field on biochemical and molecular changes that may be resulting these observed phenomena.