ANNA ALADJADJIYAN

Department of Mathematics and Physics, Agricultural University, 12, Mendeleev st., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Abstract. This paper presents the investigation of the influence of microwave irradiation treatment on the development of lentil seeds (Lens culinaris, Med.). A magnetron OM75P(31) emitting radiation with frequency 2.45 GHz has been used as a source of microwaves for the experiment. The exposure time varied from 0 s, 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, and 120 s. The germination energy (GE) and germination (G) of seeds in%, as well as the length of stems (SL) and roots (RL) in mm at 7th and 14th day after sowing, and the total weight (TW) at 14th day have been measured aiming to estimate the influence of microwave treatment. Best results have been obtained for variants with exposure time 30 s and output power 450 W – SL measured at 7th day is 10% longer than the control one, RL – 7%, and TW at 14th day is 16% higher. Longer exposure times have an inhibition effect on plant development as well as higher output power of microwave irradiation. Obtained results have been explained by the hypothesis that bigger energy absorbed by molecules at higher output power and longer exposure time could destroy cell functions and stimulation effect could not be achieved.
Key words: microwave irradiation, stimulation, lentils, germination, stem, root length, total weight.

Author’s e-mail: anna@au–plovdiv.bg

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