TABLE 2.
Growth parameters of PEF‐treated and untreated wheat seed plantlets
| Parameters | Untreated | PEF 2‐25 | PEF 2‐50 | PEF 4‐25 | PEF 4‐50 | PEF 6‐25 | PEF 6‐50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh weight (mg/seedling) | 80.2 ± 0.58e | 88.5 ± 0.71d | 92.1 ± 0.61d | 101.3 ± 1.10c | 105.7 ± 0.99c | 114.4 ± 1.27b | 122.6 ± 1.72a |
| Dry weight (mg/seedling) | 18.60 ± 0.27de | 20.46 ± 0.73d | 21.40 ± 0.48d | 23.48 ± 1.04bc | 23.90 ± 0.47bc | 25.51 ± 0.55b | 27.37 ± 1.68a |
| Total length (cm/seedling) | 9.00 ± 0.40e | 9.3 ± 0.07d | 9.5 ± 0.25c | 9.7 ± 0.24b | 9.7 ± 0.42b | 9.8 ± 0.07a | 9.9 ± 0.34a |
| Vigor index A | 67.2 ± 3.23g | 75.65 ± 0.99f | 80.96 ± 1.22e | 92.92 ± 134d | 96.60 ± 3.23c | 109.44 ± 1.22b | 117.12 ± 2.70a |
| Vigor index B | 15.62 ± 0.45cd | 17.80 ± 0.48c | 18.83 ± 0.23c | 21.60 ± 1.26b | 21.98 ± 1.15b | 24.01 ± 0.53a | 25.92 ± 1.96a |
| Soluble protein (mg/g) | 8.94 ± 0.23c | 8.98 ± 0.19c | 9.46 ± 0.29b | 9.51 ± 0.17b | 9.62 ± 0.14b | 9.74 ± 0.16b | 10.02 ± 0.21a |
| TPC (Gallic acid/100 ml) | 280.12 ± 1.23e | 291.23 ± 2.32d | 299.45 ± 3.12c | 312.32 ± 1.57b | 315.65 ± 2.76b | 328.88 ± 2.14a | 332.11 ± 1.67a |
| DPPH (Trolox µM) | 1,314.4 ± 3.13e | 1,339.7 ± 3.42d | 1,345.8 ± 4.16c | 1,362.2 ± 2.51b | 1,369.5 ± 4.46b | 1,382.9 ± 3.24a | 1,390.3 ± 3.62a |
Outcomes with distinct letters in the same row (a–g) are significantly (p < .05) different from each other. PEF 2‐25, treated at 2 kV/cm with 25 pulses; PEF 2‐50, treated at 2 kV/cm with 50 pulses; PEF 4‐25, treated at 4 kV/cm with 25 pulses; PEF 4‐50, treated at 4 kV/cm with 50 pulses; PEF 6‐25, treated at 6 kV/cm with 25 pulses; PEF 6‐50, treated at 6 kV/cm with 50 pulses.