Pre-treatment of seeds with static magnetic field improves germination and early growth characteristics under salt stress in maize and soybean

Maize and Soybean seeds were pre-treated with static magnetic field (SMF) of 200 mT for 1 h to evaluate the effect of magnetopriming on germination and early growth characteristics of seeds under saline conditions. The adverse effect of NaCl induced salt stress was found on percentage germination and germination related parameters. Enhanced percentage germination and early seedling growth parameters (root and shoot length, and vigour indices) under different salinity levels (0-100 mM NaCl) indicated that magnetopriming was more effective in alleviating salinity stress at early seedling stage of both maize and soybean as compared to untreated seeds. alpha- amylase and protease activities were also higher in SMF treated seeds under both non-saline and saline conditions. This could have resulted in faster hydration of enzymes in SMF treated seeds leading to higher rate of germination. Increased levels of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide was found in germinating magnetoprimed seeds of maize and soybean, under both the growing conditions. Enhancement in seed germination and seedling vigour under both the growing conditions by SMF treatment may be due to the combined effect of enhanced alpha- amylase and protease activities and enhanced levels of free radicals in the seeds.