Enhancing Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) Seed Quality through Microwaves Application

cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-1113-419X
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-9178-7181
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid976bd402-902c-4fdf-bda9-b07db7d7dd1d
cris.virtualsource.author-orcidb692ec09-231a-47f7-8bfe-798b6e624bfb
dc.abstract.enIn organic farming, microwave irradiation can be used as an alternative to standard chemical seed treatment. The increase in temperature during this treatment may negatively affect the germination of low-quality seeds. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of microwaves on germination and the health of zinnia seeds using four seed samples varying in initial seed quality. Seeds were placed in a beaker with distilled water and irradiated at power output levels of 500, 650 and 750 W for 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 s. Controls were untreated seeds, seeds treated with fungicide and seeds soaked in water for 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 s. Germination and health tests were performed for controls and microwave-treated seeds. Analyzed samples differed in seed quality and response to microwave irradiation. Improvement in seed germination after microwave treatment was observed in three of the tested samples. The fungi Alternaria alternata, A. zinniae and Fusarium spp. prevailed on the seeds. Microwave treatment, especially at power outputs of 650 and 750 W, usually positively affected seed health, significantly increasing the number of seeds free of fungi, but when water temperature during treatment exceeded 60 °C significant deterioration in germination parameters was observed in all tested samples.
dc.affiliationWydział Rolnictwa, Ogrodnictwa i Biotechnologii
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Fitopatologii i Nasiennictwa
dc.contributor.authorSzopińska, Dorota
dc.contributor.authorDorna, Hanna
dc.date.access2025-05-27
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-28T11:22:55Z
dc.date.available2025-08-28T11:22:55Z
dc.date.copyright2023-04-27
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>In organic farming, microwave irradiation can be used as an alternative to standard chemical seed treatment. The increase in temperature during this treatment may negatively affect the germination of low-quality seeds. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of microwaves on germination and the health of zinnia seeds using four seed samples varying in initial seed quality. Seeds were placed in a beaker with distilled water and irradiated at power output levels of 500, 650 and 750 W for 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 s. Controls were untreated seeds, seeds treated with fungicide and seeds soaked in water for 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 s. Germination and health tests were performed for controls and microwave-treated seeds. Analyzed samples differed in seed quality and response to microwave irradiation. Improvement in seed germination after microwave treatment was observed in three of the tested samples. The fungi Alternaria alternata, A. zinniae and Fusarium spp. prevailed on the seeds. Microwave treatment, especially at power outputs of 650 and 750 W, usually positively affected seed health, significantly increasing the number of seeds free of fungi, but when water temperature during treatment exceeded 60 °C significant deterioration in germination parameters was observed in all tested samples.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographybibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_nocost
dc.description.financecost0,00
dc.description.if3,3
dc.description.number5
dc.description.points100
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume13
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/agronomy13051241
dc.identifier.issn2073-4395
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/4478
dc.identifier.weblinkhttp://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/5/1241
dc.languageen
dc.relation.ispartofAgronomy
dc.relation.pagesart. 1241
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudnosend
dc.share.typeOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enAlternaria alternata
dc.subject.enAlternaria zinniae
dc.subject.enFusarium spp.
dc.subject.enzinnia seeds
dc.subject.engermination
dc.subject.enmicrowave treatment
dc.titleEnhancing Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) Seed Quality through Microwaves Application
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue5
oaire.citation.volume13