Short-Term Pre-Germination Exposure to ELF Magnetic Field Does Not Influence Seedling Growth in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum)

The effects of a short (15 and 30 s) exposure of durum wheat (Triticum durum) seeds to extremely low frequency magnetic field (f = 50 Hz, B = 15 mT) on germination and seedling growth Under controlled laboratory conditions were studied. Germination rate, fresh weight of seedlings, seedlings height and chlorophyll contents were measured the 4(th) and 8(th) day after sowing. Magnetic field did not influence the seed germination process. Fresh weight was affected by applied treatments in the first four days (118% and 89% of control plans for 15 s and 30 s treatment, respectively). In the further period, the action of magnetic field (MY) pre-treatment on growth of seedlings was eliminated, resulting in compensation of growth potentialities. The chlorophyll levels in seedlings were significantly modified, on both the 4(th) (120% and 87% of control plans for 15 s and 30 s treatment, respectively) and 8(th) (94% for 15 s treatment and 96% for 30 s) days. However, the chlorophyll a and b ratios remained unchanged after MF treatments. The results show that MF may have, a mostly temporary, negative and positive effect on early growth, which is strongly dependent on the applied exposure time.