The effects of different intensities and exposure time of AC electric field
and AC magnetic field on tomato seed have been investigated to determine t
he optimal conditions for accelerating germination. The percent germination
rates of the treated sample seed were compared with those of the untreated
seed germinated under normal conditions. The seeds were treated with AC el
ectric fields ranging from 4 to 12 kV/cm and AC magnetic flux densities ran
ging from 3 to 1000 G, and were exposed to three time periods ranging from
15 to 60 s with corresponding equal rest time periods. It is found that the
percent germination rates of the treated tomato seed were accelerated abou
t 1.1-2.8 times compared with that of the untreated seed. However, an inhib
itory effect on germination was shown in the case of the electric held more
than 12 kV/cm and the exposure time more than 60 s. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie
nce B.V. All rights reserved.