Effect of magnetic field on in vitro seedling growth and shoot regeneration from cotyledon node explants of Lathyrus chrysanthus boiss.

The stimulatory effects on germination of seeds and growth of plants of static magnetic field (MF) pre-treatments depending on MF intensity, exposure time periods, signal form, flux density, and source frequencies on plants are reported. Seed germination frequency is low due to dormancy in Lathyrus chrysanthus Boiss. from Fabaceae family, consisting of 187 taxa. Tissue culture protocol for this plant has already been optimized. This plant is also used as a model for developing alternative methods to overcome dormancy. This study was conducted to determine the effects of MF on in vitro seed germination, seedling growth, and shoot regeneration capacity of cotyledon node explants in Lathyrus chrysanthus Boiss. to obtain healthy seedlings in large quantities. The seeds of an ecotype (Diyarbakir) were subjected to 125 mT MF strength for different exposure time periods (0-untreated, 24, 48, and 72 h). Sterilized seeds were germinated on growth basal medium in Magenta vessels. Seed germination and seedling growth percentages were recorded after 7 and 14 days of culture initiation, whereas seedling and root lengths were noted 28 days after culture initiation. At the end of the culture, shoot regeneration percentage, shoot number per explant, highest shoot height per explant, and total shoot number per petri dish were recorded. According to the results, it could be concluded that MF treatment could clearly be used to improve germination by breaking dormancy not only in Lathyrus chrysanthus Boiss. but also other plant species. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:547-555, 2018.© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.