Impacts Of High Voltage Electric Field (Hvef) Applications On Germination And Seedling Growth Of Seed (Triticum Aestivum L.) With Analysis By Fourier Transform Infrared (Ftir) Spectroscopy

Abstract

Wheat is an important widely grown cereal that its grains used worldwide as a staple food. In this study, germination and seedling growth characteristics of grains of Triticum aestivum, the most widely grown species of the genus, in response to HVEF applications were studied. Three different intensities (50, 100 and 200 kV/m) were applied for 1, 5 and 10 min durations. Germination percentages were not affected by treatments, while germination speeds were inhibited by high intensities at long durations. Maximum enhancement in seedling growth measures which were given as root and shoot lengths and dry weights was determined for 5 min 50 kV/m treatment, where increases in average seedling lengths and dry weights were 34.2 % and 26.1 %, respectively. 1 min durations of treatments were also highly improved seedling growth, particularly at root measures. ATR technique was used to analyze the roots and first foliage leafs of treated seeds at FTIR spectroscopy. FTIR results supported that HVEF treatment could be a useful tool for enhancement of wheat seedling growth in early stages of development.