Effect of Stationary Magnetic Fields on Medicinal Plants

Abstract

In recent decades, physical techniques based on the application of magnetic fields (MF) have been developed in the agricultural sector with favorable results in plant germination and growth. The main objective of this study is to determine the effects of magnetic treatment on the germination Salvia officinalis L. and Calendula officinalis L. seeds. Groups of seeds were exposed to MF of 125 mT for different times, other groups of seeds were subjected to magnetic pretreatment and others were used as control. Germination tests were performed under laboratory conditions. The parameters were: germination time of the first seed (T1), time for reaching 10-75% of germination (T10, T25, T50 and T75), mean germination time (MGT) and number of germinated seeds (Gmax), provided by Seedcalculator software. The parameters recorded for both species with treatment and pretreatment were lower than the value of the corresponding control, chronic exposure at 125 mT provided the highest results; MGT was significantly reduced compared to controls. (T1-T50) were also significantly reduced.