title: Comparison of HeNe laser and sinusoidal non-uniform magnetic field seed pre-sowing treatment effect on Glycine max (Var 90-I) germination, growth and yield.
abstract: 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 (HeNe-wave length 632nm and density power of 1mW/cm2) and magnetic field (sinusoidal non-uniform-50, 75 and 100mT for 3, 5min 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.
authors.affiliation: Bio-Electromagnetics and Laser Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tehseen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asghar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: bosalvee@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Munawar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Bio-Electromagnetics and Laser Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: yasirjamil@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.lastname: Zia-Ul-Haq
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nisar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
mesh_terms: D018525:Germination; D054020:Lasers, Gas; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D013025:Glycine max / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Germination; Glycine max; Seedling growth; Seeds stimulation; Yield characteristics