Exploring the growth potential of Albizia procera and Leucaena leucocephala as influenced by magnetic fields

Authors : Muhammad Ayyoub TANVIR, Zia-ul- HAQ, Abdul HANNAN, Muhammad Farrakh NAWAZ, Muhammad Tahir SIDDIQUI, Amer SHAH

Pages : 757-763

Doi:10.3906/sag-1203-100

View : 16 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2012-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Due to the discriminate use of plant chemicals and their resultant negative impact on the environment, researchers are interested in monitoring plant behavior as modified by various nonchemical influences such as magnetic fields. A pot experiment was designed to assess the growth potential of Albizia procera Roxb. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Sufed Sirin); and Leucaena leucocephala Lam. insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Ipil Ipil); seedlings, established from seeds exposed to a magnetic field insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MF); of 75 millitesla for 3 different time intervals, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min respectively. After the seeds were exposed to a MF of 75 mT for 15 min, A. procera plants showed 49% more germination than in the control insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(41%);, whereas L. leucocephala plants gained 37% more germination in the same treatment. A. procera had maximum plant height insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(13.1 cm); when seeds were exposed to a MF of 75 mT for 15 min, while the height gained by the control was only 7.1 cm. Similarly, L. leucocephala gained maximum plant height insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(17.8 cm); when seeds were treated with MF for 15 min, i.e. 137% greater than the height gained from nontreated seeds insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(7.5 cm);. Seed exposure to MFs also resulted in higher collar diameter in both plants. In high-MF-treated A. procera insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(18.6 cm); seedlings, root length was 3 times longer than in the control insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(6.5 cm);; MF-treated L. leucocephala seedlings gained maximum insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(63% longer); root length insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(18.9 cm);, as well. A. procera had its maximum root-to-shoot ratio insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(R/S); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.9); in the seedlings treated with low MF insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5 min);, whereas L. leucocephala had its maximum R/S insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.6); in nontreated seeds. Seeds exposed to MF for 5 min resulted in minimum R/S insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.9);. The results clearly suggested that by increasing the time intervals for seed exposure to the fixed MF of 75 mT, the sowed seeds of both species showed higher growth rate.
Keywords : Key words Albizia procera, Leucaena leucocephala, magnetic field, root shoot ratio, seed germination