Interactive effect of static magnetic field and abiotic stressors on growth and biochemical parameters of germinating wheat cultivars

In this study, the effects of the individual and combined application of the static magnetic field and abiotic stressors (60 gL-1 PEG6000 (as a drought stress inducer) or 100 mM NaCI (as a salinity stress inducer)) on the cultivars of germinating wheat were investigated by assessing growth, biochemical and antioxidant defence parameters. The seeds of Nina and Flamura-85 species of bread wheat were exposed to 2.9-4.7 mT static magnetic flow density for a period of 0, 2.2 and 19.8 seconds on a band turning with the speed of 1 ms-1. Moreover, this magnetic field application was performed together with abiotic stressors and separately. The growth parameters of both wheat cultivars increased under the static magnetic field applications, while they decreased when subject to the abiotic stress application than the control. The application of the static magnetic field together with abiotic stressors statistically increased the amount of • OH and H2O2 in root samples, and the total Chl, Chl a and Chl b amounts in leaf samples. The application of the static magnetic field together with abiotic stressors or separately significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT, APX and GR), and GSH and GSSG content in all experimental groups when compared to the control. Consequently, that the application of the magnetic field triggers the antioxidant defence parameters reduced the negative effects of drought and salinity stresses on the growth parameters in both species.