Beneficial effects of Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Sinusoidal Magnetic Field (SMF) exposure on mineral and protein content of mungbean seeds and sprouts

Five mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] lines (CN9–5, EC693363, Harsha, KPS-1 and NM 94) were subjected to three different Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Sinusoidal Magnetic Field (SMF) treatments. Fresh seed lots were exposed to ELF-SMF for 5 hours/day for a total duration of 15 days. Three treatment combinations of ELF-SMF chosen for assessment and comparison were: T1–10Hz, 1500 + 250 nanoTesla (nT), T2–50Hz, 1500 + 250nT and T3–100Hz, 1500 + 250nT. Non-treated seeds were maintained as control (T4). Minerals (iron, calcium, zinc and total phosphorus) and protein contents were determined in both the control and test seed lots and sprout samples raised from them. The sprouting parameters were also recorded. All three ELF-SMF treatments were significant for calcium and total phosphorus content in the test seed samples when compared to control. In the case of sprouts, with respect to minerals, all the ELF-SMF treatments were significant for calcium content when compared to control. With respect to protein, sprouts from EC 693363 line recorded 8.3% increase in protein content in T1 (10Hz) while sprouts from Harsha line recorded 7.2% increase in protein content in T2 (50Hz) compared to their respective controls. No treatment effects were observed for the sprouting parameters.