Acceleration of Germination and Early Growth of Plant Seeds by High Frequency and Low Intensity Alternating Electric Fields

Abstract

Low-intensity (0.05–1 V_pp / cm (peak to peak voltage per cm)) and high frequency (10–100 MHz) alternating electric fields accelerate seed germination. One V_pp / cm, 100 MHz alternating electric field application for 10 h significantly shortened germination time of arugula, Japanese mustard spinach, and pea seeds, respectively. The germination rates of the electric field applied plant seeds were enhanced 1.5–2.2 times compared to the untreated seeds, respectively. After 72 h of the incubation, the 1 V_pp / cm, 100 MHz alternating electric field for 10 h significantly increased 1.4 folds of culm lengths in the arugula, the Japanese mustard spinach, and the pea seeds compared with those of the untreated seeds.