J.O. ODHIAMBO*, F.G. NDIRITU*, I.N. WAGARA**

*Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Egerton University, P.O. BOX 536 Njoro, Kenya, e-mails: joodhiambo2003@yahoo.com, fgichukin@yahoo.com.
**Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Egerton University, P.O. BOX 536 Njoro, Kenya

Abstract. This study evaluates the percent germination of Rose coco bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds, when exposed to static electromagnetic fields under laboratory conditions incubated for 24 h. This can be replicated in the field to aid short period production of beans, hence higher yield. For a given set of sample, germinating bean seeds were exposed to field generated by Helmholtz coil, North Pole or the South Pole with constant magnetic fields of 5 mT, 10 mT, 30 mT and 60 mT. The exposure period was fixed at 3, 4.5 and 6 h and exposed after 12 h incubation. The germinating seeds were counted after 24 h. Certain trends could be observed; statistical analysis has shown that there is statistical influence (p < 0.05, ANOVA test) of the magnetic treatment on germination of rose coco beans. Maximum seed germination occurred when exposed to South Pole field inducing percent germination of approximately 56% compared to 52% of the control at field strength of 10 mT at exposure period of 4.5 h. The research achieved its aim of proving the influence of static electromagnetic field to germination of seeds in addition to, challenging seed companies to come up with magnetized seeds that will germinate faster.
Key words: Germination, static electromagnetic fields, incubation period.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: inwagara@yahoo.com

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