Comparison of He-Ne laser and sinusoidal non-uniform magnetic field seed pre-sowing treatment effect on Glycine max (Var 90-I) germination, growth and yield

Recently, laser and magnetic field pre-sowing seed treatments attracted the attention of the scientific community in response to their positive effect on plant characteristics and the present study was exemplified for Glycine max Var 90-I. Seeds were exposed to laser (He-Ne-wave length 632 nm and density power of 1 mW/cm(2)) and magnetic field (sinusoidal non-uniform-50, 75 and 100 mT for 3, 5 min with exposure) and seed germination, seedling growth and yield attributes were compared. The germination (mean germination, germination percentage, emergence index, germination speed, relative germination coefficient, emergence coefficient of uniformity) growth (root dry weight, root length, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight, leaf dry & fresh weight, root fresh weight, leaf area, shoot length, plant total dry weight at different stages, stem diameter, number of leaves, vigor index I & II), biochemical (essential oil) and yield attributes (seed weight, count) were enhanced significantly in response to both laser and magnetic field treatments. However, magnetic field treatment furnished slightly higher response versus laser except relative water contents, whole plant weight and shoot length. Results revealed that both laser and magnetic field pre-sowing seed treatments affect the germination, seedling growth, and yield characteristics positively and could possibly be used to enhance Glycine max productivity. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.