Increasing Legume Seed Germination by VHF and Microwave Dielectric Heating

ABSTRACT SAMPLES of Australian seed lots of several small-seeded legume species were exposed to 39- and 2450-MHz electromagnetic fields and then examined for effects on germination and seedcoat permeability. Substan-tial increases in germination were obtained for some seed lots as a result of the electrical treatments which rendered hard seeds permeable to water. The treatments were most ef-fective on alfalfa (lucerne) and least effective on annual medics, with in-termediate results obtained on sub-terranean clover, rose clover, and Townsville stylo. However, because of the limited number of seed lots ex-amined, the given order should not be assumed to be general.