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Frontiers in Plant Science
Frontiers
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Abstract: |
Salinity is an abiotic stress that reduces the seed germination and productivity
of wheat. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of irrigation
with magnetically treated seawater on the germination, growth, certain
physiological and anatomical parameters, and production attributes of wheat
(Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Sakha 93 plants. Experiments were conducted in
the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University,
Egypt, during two consecutive winter seasons. Pot experiments involved ten
treatments with non-magnetized and magnetized water with various degrees
of salinity. Plant samples were taken 95 days after sowing. Irrigation with
magnetically treated seawater was found to have beneficial effects on plant
growth, water relations, biochemical characteristics, and yield components
compared with untreated plants. The germination of wheat seeds increased
13% when treated with magnetic seawater. On the yield scale, the spike length
was increased by 40% in season one, and 82% in season two when compared
to the control, while the weight of 100 grains increased by 148% and 171%, in
each season, respectively, when treated with magnetic water. The anatomical
leaf and stem parameters of the plants were markedly improved by watering
with magnetically treated seawater at 10 dS m−1 compared to the control.
However, the leaf water deficit, transpiration rate, and abscisic acid content
in the plant shoots decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The use of magnetically
treated seawater of up to 7.5 dS m−1, instead of tap water, is recommended
due to benefits to germination and seedling parameters, growth, yield, and
physiological, chemical, and anatomical characteristics. In conclusion magnetic treatment of seawater improved germination performance, growth,
and yield of wheat under saline conditions,
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