The effect of high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) on aged rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds vigor and lipid peroxidation of seedlings

The study of the effect of high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) on plant seeds has been becoming one of the popular issues in electrostatic biology since the influence of HVEF on growing plants was observed early in 1980s and a few studies showed that HVEF could increase seeds activity. In this study the aged rice seeds were treated in HVEF, and their vitality and associated physiological variables such as membrane lipid peroxidation and the protective enzyme system, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (POD: EC 1.11.1.7) and catalase (CAT: EC 1.11.1.6) were also investigated. The results showed that the activity index of aged rice seeds was significantly increased, and the leakage conductivity was decreased with the appropriate HVEF treatment. The treatment also elevated the activity of SOD, POD and CAT, which improved the penetrating capability of membrane, and adjusted the level of lipid peroxidation and lowered the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). We concluded that HVEF could elevate aged rice seeds vigor and improve membrane system of aged rice seedlings, and the treatment for 55 min was better than that of 30 min.