Abstract
Radish seeds were exposed to various cyclically fluctuating magnetic fields with a treatment apparatus of a rotary type disk. The germination percentage, the sprouting percentage and the plant growth were evaluated with the germination test and the solution culture test. The treatment conditions were as follows: the magnetic flux densities exposed to seeds in the germination test were 30, 60 and 120 mT but only 60 mT in the solution culture test; the magnetic polarities faced to seeds were N and S; the rotating and the fixing of seeds; the exposure times were 0, 5 and 15 min in the solution culture test but only 15 min in the germination test.
The germination percentage of seeds treated by the cyclic magnetic fields indicated no significant difference from that for the control. However, the root length of the plants significantly increased than that for the control in the germination test. Particularly, under the condition exposed to the S-pole and to the fluctuating magnetic field with the magnetic flux density of 60 mT, the root length was most effectively increased.
In the solution culture test, the sprouting percentage was considerably progressed in the cyclic magnetic fields. Especially, the exposure to the S-pole and to the fluctuating magnetic field of 120 mT indicated the best result in the sprouting percentage. However, the subsequent plant growth and harvests had no significant difference from those for the control.
In general, when radish seeds were exposed to a cyclically fluctuating magnetic field and to the most desirable magnetic flux density, the early root length was increased, consequently, the sprouting percentage of plant in the solution culture test was more processed than that for the control.
