Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Germination and Early Seedling Growth in Zea mays subsp. mays

Abstract

Early seedling establishment is increasingly important for agricultural resilience. Electrical stimulation has been proposed as a low-cost approach to modulate plant signalling pathways and potentially improve germination and early growth. This study tested whether brief daily electrical stimulation affects germination success and early seedling growth in Zea mays subsp. mays.

Pre-soaked Zea mays subsp. mays seeds were distributed into five groups (0 V, 3 V, 6 V, 9 V, 12 V; 35 seeds per group; total n=175). Electrical stimulation was applied for 10 min daily over 5 consecutive days using battery power sources and alligator clip electrodes placed diagonally across each tray on a moistened paper substrate. Germination was defined by visible root emergence (with or without shoot emergence). After 5 days, shoot and root lengths were measured, and group means were compared using one-way ANOVA.

Germination percentages were similar across treatments (45.71-54.29%), with no clear voltage-dependent trend. Mean shoot length was highest at 6 V (1.20 cm; SD=0.97) but did not differ significantly across voltages (ANOVA p=0.410). Mean root length peaked at 6 V (2.00 cm; SD=1.34) and decreased at higher voltages (e.g., 12 V: 1.10 cm; SD=0.85), with voltage producing a significant effect on root length (ANOVA p=0.014).

Interpretation is limited by the short duration (5 days) and substantial non-germination, which reduced effective sample size and statistical power. Growth on a nutrient-free paper substrate may limit generalizability to soil conditions, and results may be influenced by variability in delivered voltage (battery drift/electrode placement) and by measurement error from bent or branching roots.

Electrical stimulation did not improve germination, but moderate stimulation (6 V) was associated with enhanced early root elongation, while shoot growth differences were not significant. These findings suggest that appropriately tuned electrical stimulation may selectively enhance early root development in maize seedlings, warranting longer-term studies assessing downstream effects on plant performance and yield.