Pre-sowing seed magnetic field stimulation: A good option to enhance bitter gourd germination, seedling growth and yield characteristics

Effect of pre-sowing magnetic field (MF) treatments on germination, seedling growth and yield attributes in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.; cv Faisalabad Long) was investigated. Genetically uniform seeds were exposed to 25, 50, and 75 mT generated by an electromagnet (rectified sinusoidal non-uniform) for 15, 30 and 45 min each. The treated seeds were sown and grown under field conditions in experimental plots (2.4 m(2)) according to standard agricultural practices along with control. The germination, growth, and yield parameters were measured by standard methods and for mineral contents, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used. The enhancements in germination, emergence index, mean germination time (MGT) and vigor index I and II were recorded up to 54.52%, 50.92%, 35.98%, 24.93% and 47.21%, respectively. The growth parameters i.e., growth rate (56.98%), leaf area (64.61%), root fresh weight (55.77%), root dry weight (76.16%), shoot dry weight (45.26%), shoot fresh weight (23.35%), shoot length (29.39%) and root length (17.78%) were also enhanced significantly in plants, raised from magnetically treated seeds. The chlorophyll contents (35.41%), fruit length (18.11%), fruit weight (14.93%), yield (29.16%) and mineral contents were also recorded to be higher in MF treated plants group versus control. Results suggest that pre-sowing MF treatment could possibly be used to improve the productivity by enhancing germination and seedling growth since this treatment is eco-friendly, affordable and applicable at cultivator level. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.