Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-qfg88 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-11T22:09:26.708Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Germination Response of Some Woody Plant Seeds to Electrical Treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

S. O. Nelson
Affiliation:
Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric., Lincoln, NE
R. W. Bovey
Affiliation:
Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric., College Station, TX 77843
L. E. Stetson
Affiliation:
Agric Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric., Lincoln, NE 68583

Abstract

Seed lots of Macartney rose (Rosa bracteata Wendl.), yaupon (Ilex vomitoria Ait.) huisache [Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.], and honey mesquite [Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell] were exposed for various periods to radiofrequency (RF) dielectric heating by electromagnetic fields of 10 and 39 megahertz (MHz) at various field intensities in attempts to increase their germination. Both continuous-wave and pulse-modulated exposures were used at 39 MHz. Seed samples were preconditioned at temperatures from 24 to −43 C before exposure. Sixty-Hz a-c and d-c electrical treatments were included in some experiments. Although significant increases in germination were obtained by RF treatment of huisache and honey mesquite seed in some experiments, results with different huisache seed lots were inconsistent. The germination of Macartney rose seed was not increased, and no germination was observed in yaupon, regardless of the treatment employed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1978 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Ballard, L. A. T., Nelson, S. O., Buchwald, T., and Stetson, L. E. 1976. Effects of radiofrequency electric fields on permeability to water of some legume seeds, with special reference to strophiolar conduction. Seed Sci. and Technol. 4:257274.Google Scholar
2. Flynt, T.O. and Morton, H. L. 1969. A device for threshing mesquite seed. Weed Sci. 17:302303.Google Scholar
3. Jurgens, W. C., Nelson, S. O., Stetson, L. E., and Edison, A. R. 1968. Pulse modulating a high-power RF oscillator. Trans. Am. Soc. Agric. Eng. 11:185187.Google Scholar
4. Nelson, S. O., Soderholm, L. H., and Yung, F. D. 1953. Determining the dielectric properties of grain. Agric. Eng. 34:608610.Google Scholar
5. Nelson, S. O. and Whitney, W. K. 1960. Radiofrequency electric fields for stored-grain insect control. Trans. Am. Soc. Agric. Eng. 3:133137, 144.Google Scholar
6. Nelson, S. O. and Walker, E. R. 1961. Effects of radiofrequency electrical seed treatment. Agric. Eng. 42:688691.Google Scholar
7. Nelson, S. O. and Wolf, W. W. 1964. Reducing hard seed in alfalfa by radiofrequency electrical seed treatment. Trans. Am. Soc. Agric. Eng. 7:116119, 122.Google Scholar
8. Nelson, S. O. 1965. Electromagnetic radiation effects on seeds. Conference Proceedings: Electromagnetic Radiation in Agriculture, Roanoke, Virginia, Illum. Eng. Soc.–Am. Soc. Agric. Eng. pp 6063.Google Scholar
9. Nelson, S. O., Stetson, L. E., and Works, D. W., 1968. Hard-seed reduction in alfalfa by infrared and radiofrequency electrical treatments. Trans. Am. Soc. Agric. Eng. 11:728730.Google Scholar
10. Nelson, S. O., Nutile, G. E., and Stetson, L. E. 1970. Effects of radiofrequency electrical treatments on germination of vegetable seeds. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 95:359366.Google Scholar
11. Nelson, S. O., Heckert, R. M., Stetson, L. E., and Wolf, W. W. 1977. Radiofrequency electrical treatment effects on dormancy and longevity of seed. J. Seed Technol. 1:3143.Google Scholar
12. Stone, R. B., Christiansen, M. N., Nelson, S. O., Webb, J. C., Goodenough, J. L., and Stetson, L. E. 1973. Induction of germination of impermeable cottonseed by electrical treatment. Crop Sci. 13:159161.Google Scholar
13. Stetson, L. E. and Nelson, S. O. 1973. Effectiveness of hot-air, 39-MHz dielectric, and 2450-MHz microwave heating for hard-seed reduction in alfalfa. Trans. ASAE 15:530535.Google Scholar