The influence of wheat Triticum aestivum L. seed pre-sowing treatment with magnetic fields on germination, seedling growth, and antioxidant potential under optimal soil watering and flooding

Abstract

Wheat Triticum aestivum L. cv. “Banti” seeds were treated with magnetic fields (+MF) 30 mT, 50 Hz, 30 s to estimate the influence on seed germination, growth rate of seedlings, and plant tolerance under soil flooding (Fl). MF 30 mT, 50 Hz, 30 s did not stimulate growth processes under optimal soil watering, but flooding suppressed the growth of both (−MF; +Fl) and the (+MF; +Fl)-plants. The content of the thiobarbituric acids reactive substances, reflecting the intensity of oxidative processes, was lower in leaves of (+MF) than in (−MF)-plants. Soil flooding intensified oxidative processes in leaves and roots of the (−MF; +Fl) and (+MF; +Fl)-plants; however, this effect was less pronounced in the latter. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in leaves and roots of (+MF)-plants was higher than in (−MF)-plants during the first days of the experiment. Flooding increased APX activity in all variants; however, in (+MF; +Fl)-plants it was the highest. Guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity in leaves of (+MF)-seedlings was significantly higher than in (−MF)-plants at some periods of plant growth. Thus, seed treatment with MF 30 mT, 50 Hz, 30 s did not stimulate seed germination and growth processes in the seedlings, but resulted in an increase of plant antioxidant potential under soil flooding.