Abstract
The effect of homogeneous static magnetic stimulation on Zea mays L. (maize) seeds and its potential utility as a tool in biotechnological development for the improvement of maize seeds was studied. The values of magnetic flux density that influenced the biological development of some plant species of the Poaceae family were determined from a literature review. ICA V-305 variety corn seeds were exposed to seven values of magnetic flux density between 50.0 mT and 250.0 mT, with homogeneity of 98.4% and at (1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0) min exposure times. The mean germination time (MGT), index of germination speed (VGer) and germination rate (Gmax) were evaluated as responses. The magnetic flux density of 50.0 mT with a one-minute exposure time recorded the largest reduction (12.4%) in the MGT while the germination rate for the same treatment increased by 17.4% with respect to the control. No significant effects of the magnetic treatment were recorded for the Gmáx . The magnetic treatment of seeds with homogeneous static fields does not have as favourable a response as the treatments with fields with magnetic gradients, that is to say, using toroidal magnets.
Highlights
Advances in the knowledge of the evolution of living beings under the presence of the geomagnetic field has generated interest in the study of magnetosensitivity of various organisms
Belyavskaya presents an interesting review on the effect of the geomagnetic field in the biochemistry, physiology and biology of plants (Belyavskaya, 2004)
There is a large number of reports, mainly in the area of agriculture, which indicate that plant systems respond when treated with magnetic field (Galland & Pazur, 2005; Maffei, 2014; Pietruszewski & Martinez, 2015; Teixeira da Silva & Dobránszki, 2015; De Sousa et al, 2016), magnetic stimulation of plant systems can be considered as a technique still in the research stage
Summary
Advances in the knowledge of the evolution of living beings under the presence of the geomagnetic field has generated interest in the study of magnetosensitivity of various organisms. There is a large number of reports, mainly in the area of agriculture, which indicate that plant systems respond when treated with magnetic field (Galland & Pazur, 2005; Maffei, 2014; Pietruszewski & Martinez, 2015; Teixeira da Silva & Dobránszki, 2015; De Sousa et al, 2016), magnetic stimulation of plant systems can be considered as a technique still in the research stage Passive magnetic sources (permanent magnets) or active sources have been used: Helmholtz coils, electromagnets and/or solenoids (Table 1), in which the values of B, selected by the experimenters, and the values that generated favourable responses (Bfav) in the study variables are recorded
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