Effects of electric field and cold shock treatments on imbibition and germination of black soybean [Glycine max] seeds

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of electric field and cold shock treatments on imbibition and germination of black soybean seeds. Their applications to bean sprouts and other sprout products were also investigated. The application of electric field (field intensity, 333 kV/m) treatment after having performed cold shock (-20degC, 24 h) treatment reduced both the imbibition rate 30 min after imbibition started and the protein leakage rate to half those of the untreated seeds. Furthermore, five days after imbibition started, the hypocotyl length increased by 139.9% compared with that of the untreated seeds after the combined treatment applications. These results suggest that the application of electric field treatments after having performed cold shock treatment to black soybean seeds reduces the destruction of the internal parts of the seeds caused by rapid imbibition, stabilizing the early stage imbibition rate and promoting post-germination growth.