Effects of nanosecond pulsed electric field exposure on seed of Saxaul (Haloxylon ammodendron)

Desertification is one of world-wide environmental problems and it affects the livelihoods of millions of people, as it occurs on all continents. In order to prevent and reverse desertification, reforestation is one of necessary approaches. Little plant can survive in the dry and extreme conditions in desert, and among these plants, Saxaul (Haloxylon ammodendron) is a very rare and successful species living in northwest China and middle Asia. Saxaul is less expensive and more effective; however, direct seeding of this species, has not been promising. Also, the seedlings of this species grow at a relatively slow rate, resulting in a mature and useful weapon against desertification in at least 4 or 5 years. A number of reasons have been proposed to explain the unsuccessful plant establishment after seeding. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields, known as nsPEFs, has shown to have accelerating effects on model plant growth rate^[1][2].