Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of microwave treatment on seed germination and health of carrot seeds using two seed lots naturally infected with the pathogens Alternaria dauci and A. radicina. Seeds of cv. Amsterdam and cv. Berlikumer varied in seed germination at the final count (50% and 29%, respectively), and seed infestation with A. radicina (38% and 5%, respectively). For treatment, seeds were placed in a Petri dish (dry treatment) or in a beaker with distilled water (wet treatment) and irradiated at power output levels 500, 650 and 750 W for 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 s. Germination and health were determined in treated and untreated (control) seed samples. Wet treatment controlled seed-borne fungi more efficiently than dry treatment. However, the exposure duration longer than 60 s frequently resulted in deterioration of seed germination. The highest seed germination in cv. Amsterdam was observed after microwave wet treatment at power output levels of 500 W for 75 s (81%), 650 W for 45 s (85%), and 750 W for 60 s (77%), whereas in the case of cv. Berlikumer this occurred when wet seeds were treated at 500 and 650 W for 60 s (46% and 43% respectively). Treating seeds soaked in water with microwaves for a period longer than 30 s, regardless of the power output, significantly decreased seed infestation with Alternaria spp. in both samples.
Highlights
W resulted in a significant increase in seed germination at the first count compared to the control (Table 1)
A decrease in germination at the first count was noted for dry seeds treated with microwave radiation at power output levels of 500 and 650 W for 30 s, and at power output of 750 W for 15 and s, and in the case of seeds soaked in distilled water exposed to microwave radiation at
Exposure of seeds soaked in distilled water to microwave radiation at power output of 500 W for 15, 45, 60 and 75 s, at power output of 650 W for 15, 30, 45 and 60 s, and at power output of 750 W for 15, 45 and 60 s positively affected seed germination at the final count
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Synthetic fungicides are commonly applied in conventional agriculture for the control of seed-borne fungi. In the last few decades, due to the development of organic farming, various methods of physical seed treatment are acquiring increasing interest. These methods are mainly based on the use of thermal energy in a dry (e.g., elevated temperatures, solar heat) or wet (e.g., hot water, aerated steam) form. Radiation (e.g., solar, ionizing, microwave) is being increasingly applied for seed treatment [1]
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