Germination of Acacia cincinnata Seeds Promoted by Applied Electric Field

  Objective  Effect of electric field and treatment time applied to Acacia cincinnata seeds on germination was investigated.

  Method   A. cincinnata seeds were treated by electric voltages ranging from 0 (CK) to 1.0 kV·cm⁻¹ for 15, 30, 45, or 60m prior to germination under normal conditions. Indicators of germination displayed by the seeds were analyzed.

  Result  The seeds exposed to an increasing electric field for up to 60 m germinated at a rate that showed a down-up-down pattern with a peak at 45m. The germination potential and index were at the highest under 0.6−0.8 kV·cm⁻¹ for 45 m and significantly different from CK (P＜0.05). A best fit regression function between the applied electric field and time was found to be Y = 7.73 + 135.23 X₁ + 1.24 X₂−86.16 X₁²−0.00911 X₂² - 0.75 X₁ X₂ at R² = 0.81 (P＜0.05). A cluster analysis indicated an extremely significant effect of the electric field/time interaction exerted on the seed germination index.

  Conclusion   The of an electric field and treatment time applied on A. cincinnata seeds significantly affected the germination with a rate peaked under 0.6 kV·cm⁻¹ for 45 m.