Stimulation of the germination and growth of different plant species using an electric field treatment with IrO2‐Ta2O5|Ti electrodes

BACKGROUND The goal of this research was to develop the electro‐culturing process for different species of plants including Arabidopsis thaliana and Mammillaria mathildae using IrO2‐Ta2O5|Ti | Ti (anode) electrodes while applying a constant direct current electric field. RESULTS Germination rate was increased in both plant species, growth rate was also enhanced during early life stages of A. thaliana, while the size of the Cactaceae M. mathildae was also increased. Root structure was analyzed in an in vitro analysis using A. thaliana and several enhanced aspects were observed. CONCLUSIONS This Testing showed that an electro‐culturing process was beneficial during testing as soil ions underwent electro‐migration allowing the permeation of the nutrients to the seeds. Furthermore, a decrease in pH was observed near the IrO2‐Ta2O5|Ti anodes, due to electrolysis of the water during the electro‐culture process (pH = 1), and generation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) was observed during this electrolysis when seeds were exposed to low intensity direct current electric fields for a short time. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry