Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 22: 1350 - 1358. Published October 7, 2009.
The influence of AC electromagnetic fields on the initial radicle growth rate of Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Odhiambo O. Jared^*, Ndiritu G. Francis* and Wagara N. Isabel **
*Department of Physics and**Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Egerton University, P.O. BOX 536-20107, EGERTON, KENYA.
^Corresponding author email: joodhiambo2003@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine if AC electromagnetic fields can be used to improve growth of food crops. This would reduce and minimize contamination of yield that is associated with application of fertilizers to promote plant growth and chemicals to control pests and diseases.
Methodology and results: Alternating 50Hz electromagnetic fields generated by Helmholtz coil of 0, 5, 10, 30 and 60mT were applied to selected 24h incubate already germinate Rosecoco bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings. For a given set of sample, bean seedlings were exposed to AC electromagnetic field for 3, 4.5 and 6h per day. The radical length of beans was measured after every 12h over a 4 days incubation period. Linear regression analysis showed that the incubation period significantly influenced bean radicle elongation with mean optimum rate of 0.088cm/hr after incubation for 66h. Exposure period and strength of electromagnetic field insignificantly influenced the initial rate of radicle elongation of Rosecoco beans.
Conclusion and application of findings: Beans growing naturally have a more uniform increase in length than those exposed to AC electromagnetic fields. The growth parameters (e.g. hormones) have been accelerated at the exposure to magnetic field hence higher elongation of radicle per given time duration. Furthermore, the stimulant effect of electromagnetic field on growth parameters resulted into higher standard error for beans exposed to AC electromagnetic fields. Further research on this need to be done especially if the pretreatment of seeds will give the same results so that it can be used in developing better quality and fast growing bean seed.
Key words: Bean, electromagnetic fields, plant growth, Helmholtz coil
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