Seed priming with electromagnetic field improved growth, nutrition and metabolism of Salvia nemorosa L.

In this study, the efficiencies of seed priming with electromagnetic field (0, 2, 4, and 6 mT; 30 minutes daily for 3 days) were investigated in Salvia nemorosa. The exposure to electromagnetic filed led to significant increases in biomass accumulation (mean=53.6 %). Electromagnetic filed treatments significantly increased K, Ca, Mg, and Fe contents in leaves by mean 39.5 %. The electromagnetic filed treatments at all applied intensities increased both chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Moreover, the electromagnetic filedtreated seedlings had significantly higher protein levels (mean=47 %) than the control. The applications of electromagnetic filed treatments induced peroxidase activities (mean=34.5 %) in leaves. However, these treatments reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes. The PAL activities in the electromagnetic filed-treated seedlings were higher by 61 % over the control. With a similar trend, the electromagnetic filed treatments promoted flavonoid accumulations. These results support this hypothesis that the application of the electromagnetic field may improve plant growth and secondary metabolism. Further studies, especially at molecular levels may help to elucidate the complicated involved mechanisms.