influence of intensity and exposure duration of magnetic field on behavior of seed germination and seedling growth of wheat (triticum aestivum l.)

in order to study the effect of intensity and exposure duration magnetic field on wheat (triticum aestivum l.) seed germination an experiment was conducted in laboratory of ferdowsi university of mashhad, iran. the experiment was including 11 treatments as three level of magnetic field intensities (pretreatment of seeds with 50, 100 and 150 mt magnetic field) and three exposure durations (10, 20 and 30 minutes), permanent magnetic field with intensity 3 mt and control. results indicated that the lowest mean germination time (mgt) was found in 100 mt magnetic field with 20 min exposure duration. mgt was reduced by 43 percent in comparison to control at 100 mt magnetic field with 20 min exposure duration. in contrast the highest and the lowest germination rate was showed in 100 mt magnetic field with 20 min exposure duration and 150 mt magnetic field with all of the durations respectively. magnetic treatments not affected on seed germination. magnetic field stimulated shoot growth more than root growth. the highest shoot length was achieved in 100 mt magnetic field with 10, 30 and 20 min exposure duration and the lowest was shown in control. magnetic treatments increased shoot length by 27 percent comparing to control. magnetic treatments not affected shoot, root, seedling dry matter, and vigor index ii. it seems that low magnetic field intensities had a simulative effect on germination traits whereas high intensities had a negative effect.