Effects of Electromagnetic Field on Seed Germination, β-Amylase Activity, Total Protein Content, Water Uptake, and Growth of Wheat Seedlings (Triticum aestivum).

PAPER pubmed Bioelectromagnetics 2025 Animal study Effect: benefit Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1002/bem.70011 PMID: 40548434 Evidence Lab

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) treatment on wheat seeds' germination, β-amylase activity, total protein content, water uptake and seedling growth under laboratory conditions. Wheat seeds were exposed to a 10 Hz EMF of 7.5 mT for 5 h over 3 days, with untreated seeds as controls. Results showed significant increases in overall biomass (8.68-fold), above-ground biomass (AGB) (49.47%), and below-ground biomass (BGB) (39.18%) after 48 h of imbibition. EMF treatment enhanced total protein content by fourfold and amylase activity by 4.5-fold compared to controls after 24 h of imbibition. The experimental group also exhibited accelerated germination by 36 h compared to controls. Notably, β-amylase activity in leaf tissue increased fivefold, which is crucial for seed germination. The study concludes that EMF application in early development activates biochemical reactions, accelerating germination and potentially improving crop tolerance to abiotic stresses and promoting seedling emergence in/. Bioelectromagnetics. 00:00-00, 2025. © 2025 © 2025 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

benefit

Population

Wheat seeds/seedlings (Triticum aestivum) under laboratory conditions

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF laboratory EMF treatment · 5 h over 3 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Wheat seeds exposed to a 10 Hz EMF (7.5 mT) for 5 h over 3 days showed accelerated germination (by 36 h vs controls) and increased biomass after 48 h of imbibition (overall biomass 8.68-fold; AGB +49.47%; BGB +39.18%). EMF treatment increased total protein content (fourfold) and amylase activity (4.5-fold) after 24 h of imbibition, and β-amylase activity in leaf tissue increased fivefold.

Outcomes measured

Seed germination timing
β-amylase activity
Total protein content
Water uptake
Seedling growth/biomass (overall, above-ground, below-ground)

Limitations

Laboratory conditions; generalizability to field conditions not stated
Sample size not reported in abstract
Water uptake results not reported in abstract despite being listed as an outcome
Potential implications for abiotic stress tolerance are stated as potential; direct testing not described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "laboratory EMF treatment",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "5 h over 3 days"
    },
    "population": "Wheat seeds/seedlings (Triticum aestivum) under laboratory conditions",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Seed germination timing",
        "β-amylase activity",
        "Total protein content",
        "Water uptake",
        "Seedling growth/biomass (overall, above-ground, below-ground)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Wheat seeds exposed to a 10 Hz EMF (7.5 mT) for 5 h over 3 days showed accelerated germination (by 36 h vs controls) and increased biomass after 48 h of imbibition (overall biomass 8.68-fold; AGB +49.47%; BGB +39.18%). EMF treatment increased total protein content (fourfold) and amylase activity (4.5-fold) after 24 h of imbibition, and β-amylase activity in leaf tissue increased fivefold.",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "Laboratory conditions; generalizability to field conditions not stated",
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Water uptake results not reported in abstract despite being listed as an outcome",
        "Potential implications for abiotic stress tolerance are stated as potential; direct testing not described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic field",
        "ELF",
        "10 Hz",
        "7.5 mT",
        "wheat",
        "Triticum aestivum",
        "seed germination",
        "β-amylase",
        "protein content",
        "biomass",
        "seedling growth",
        "imbibition"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Comments

No comments yet.