The Effect of physical agents( laser and EMR) on germination and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Effect of physical agents( laser and EMR) on germination and biomass production of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ) � A. Goertel Mentors- P. C. Josekutty, M. Tofighi, M. Li Penn State Harrisburg NSF REU 2011

Switchgrass � Physical agent stimulation � • Energy crop � • Stimulate overall cell proteinogenic activity � • pellets and bio-ethanol � • Stress responses � • Cool season grass � • Energy � • Marginal land � • Chemical methods � • Carbon sink � • Toxicity + cost � • Perennial � • 17% germination percentage � �

Objective • Determine the effect of infrared and microwave radiation on germination rate and biomass production of Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)

Physical Treatments • 830 nm IR Laser • flesh-penetrating • refraction in water • heating • Continuous Microwave Signal Generator (Anritsu) • 2.425 GHz, 0.1341 W, 21.27 dBm • boosted • patch antenna • heating

Date � Treatment � Exposure � Distance � Intensity � 6/13 � !R � 20 min � 19 cm � Full � 6/20 � IR � 20 min � 19 cm � full � 6/21 � IR � 30 min � 30 cm � partial � 7/1 � IR � 20 min � 30 cm � full � 7/7 � IR � 20 min � 19 cm � full � 7/11 � IR � 20 min � 19 cm � full � 7/18 � IR � 30 min � 19 cm � full � 7/19 � IR � 30 min � 19 cm � full � 7/21 � IR � 30 min � 30 cm � partial � Date � Treatment � Exposure � Distance � Intensity � 7/26 � EMR-wet � 20 min � 5 cm � 21.3 dbm � 7/29 � EMR-wet � 20 min � 5 cm � 21.3 dbm � 7/29 � EMR-dry � 20 min � 5 cm � 21.3 dbm � 8/4 � EMR-wet � 20 min � 5 cm � 21.3 dbm �

Planting and Quantification � • ~100 seeds/ pot • Tween 20 surface wash • Soil type • variation due to supply issue • 30 day nutrient usage • Shoot count • Aboveground clipping, harvest • Fresh + dry weight

Germination Percentage and Biomass Data Avg. Treated % Avg. Control % Avg. Treated Mass Avg. Control Date � t (two tailed) � t � Germ � Germ � (g) � Biomass (g) � 6/13 � 5.8 � 0.26 � 0.0127 � X � X � X � 6/20 � 19.1 � 31.4 � 0.113 � 0.044 � 0.115 � 0.0383 � 6/21 � 23.3 � 11.1 � 0.039 � 0.031 � 0.013 � 0.118 � 7/1 � 26.7 � 31.5 � 0.429 � 0.147 � 0.156 � 0.764 � 7/7 � 26.0 � 27.7 � 0.595 � X � X � X � 7/11 � 7.8 � 3.1 � 0.221 � X � X � X � 7/18 � 42.4 � 45.7 � 0.665 � X � X � X � 7/19 � 45.9 � 42.6 � 0.385 � X � X � X � 7/21 � 39.3 � 35.3 � 0.316 � X � X � X � 7/26 � 28.1 � 22.2 � 0.127 � X � X � X �

Results • No significant difference • IR laser • Possible deleterious effect • High variation • Insufficient EMR data • <1week • Wet vs. dry germination

Duration, Avg. Treated % Avg. Control % Dates � T test � Distance � germ � germ � 6/13, 6/20, 7/7, 20 min, 19 cm � 21.9 � 22.3 � 0.926 � 7/11 � 30 min, 30 cm � 6/21, 7/21 � 34.1 � 33.7 � 0.896 � 30 min, 19 cm � 7/18, 7/19 � 21.4 � 20.1 � 0.853 �

Analysis and Conclusion � • Two tailed t-test � • No significant effect on germination, biomass � • EMR �

Thank You • Dr. Sairam, Dr. Josekutty, Dr. Tofighi • Jason Li • Deepkamal Karelia, Diego Morales, Julianne Dauber, Mike Chennavasin • Allison Shule • Penn State Harrisburg • NSF