Abstract
The paper explores the impact of electromagnetic stimulation of Ulstar alfalfa seeds on fresh mass yield, the quantum efficiency of the plants’ photochemical reactions, and the content of photosynthetic pigments in leaves. Before sowing, seeds were subjected to electromagnetic stimulation in the following configurations: control (C), no stimulation; stimulation with He–Ne laser light with the wavelength of 632.8 nm, surface power density of 3 mW·cm−2 and exposition time of 1 min (L1) or 5 min (L5); stimulation with alternating magnetic field with the induction of 30 mT and exposition time of 1 min (F1) or 5 min (F5). It was established that the variability of alfalfa yields at the onset of anthesis was dependent on weather conditions as well as, above all, on the electromagnetic stimulation employed. At the same time, the values of fresh mass yield of alfalfa and photosynthetic efficiency were higher in the first year of cultivation (2014) compared to the last year (2016). In terms of photosynthetic efficiency, the best results were observed for L1 and F5, respectively: 0.801 and 0.800. The significantly highest values in terms of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid content were observed in 2014 at the onset of budding in the combination involving alternating magnetic field stimulation (F5), and were, respectively, 30%, 28% and 73% relative to the control.
Highlights
Medicago sativa L. is a perennial flowering plant in the Fabaceae family
Alfalfa seeds were subjected to electromagnetic stimulation in the following configurations: control—C; stimulation with He–Ne laser light with the wavelength of 632.8 nm and surface power density of 3 mW·cm−2, with respective exposition times of 1 min (L1) and 5 min (L5); and stimulation with an alternating magnetic field with the magnetic induction of 30 mT and exposition time of 1 min (F1) and 5 min (F5)
The results of the present study indicate that in the year of sowing (2014), at the stage of full budding and the onset of anthesis, an upward trend in terms of photochemical efficiency was observed for all stimulation variants when compared to the control
Summary
Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) is a perennial flowering plant in the Fabaceae family. It is grown mainly as fodder to be used in the form of green fodder, hay, haylage, or dry material, as well as protein–xanthophylls (PX) concentrate or Lucerne leaf extract (EFL) used in human diet, etc. [1,2].The plant is grown globally, its plantations covering a total of approximately 35 million hectares [3,4].Alfalfa is characterized by high nutritional value, mainly due to its high protein and mineral content [5].In agriculture, it plays an important proenvironmental role due to its ability to bind surface nitrogen as well as nitrogen in deeper layers of soil to its Rhizobia-infected roots [2,3].Light is an essential factor influencing photosynthesis. (alfalfa) is a perennial flowering plant in the Fabaceae family. Alfalfa is characterized by high nutritional value, mainly due to its high protein and mineral content [5]. In agriculture, it plays an important proenvironmental role due to its ability to bind surface nitrogen as well as nitrogen in deeper layers of soil to its Rhizobia-infected roots [2,3]. The process takes place in plant chloroplasts (containing stroma and thylakoids). Light-dependent photosynthesis reactions take place in the thylakoid membranes, and light-independent reactions in the stroma. Literature reports suggest that the light-dependent phase takes place in two photosystems
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