Examining the influence of electromagnetic fields on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants under water stress (drought)

Abstract

Magnetic fields have garnered significant interest from the scientific community due to their potential to improve seed germination, seedling growth, and various physiological, biochemical, and yield-related traits in plants, including cereal crops and vegetables. Over the years, research has highlighted the magnetic field (MF) as a safe and effective alternative for enhancing agricultural productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of magnetic field pre-treatment on wheat (Triticum aestivum), a major crop in Libya and globally, primarily used for human nutrition due to its high content of proteins, minerals, and carbohydrates. One of the most important applications of magnetic fields is the treatment of wet seeds. The study also explored the effects of magnetic fields applied at different durations (control, one day, two days). Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves per plant, root length, fresh weight, and dry matter were assessed, along with yield characteristics like number of seeds per spike, 100-grain weight, and total grain yield under drought stress. Additionally, physiological aspects such as mineral nutrient content, monosaccharides, disaccharides, total soluble sugars, crude protein, proline, auxin levels, and protein analysis using SDS-PAGE were measured. The results showed that magnetic field treatments significantly improved plant growth compared to untreated seeds under drought stress. The findings indicate that pre-sowing magnetic field treatment has the potential to enhance the development of wheat seeds, improving growth parameters, mineral nutrients, total soluble sugars, pigments, and proteins. Notably, exposing seeds to the magnetic field for two days produced the best results.