Alternation of Growth, Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Enzymes and Capacity by Magnetic Field in Hyssopus officinalis under Water Deficit

In the present study, the effect of seed priming with magnetic field (mf; 45, 90, 200 and 250 mt for 5, 10, 20 and 30 min) was evaluated in 60-day-old hyssopus officinalis plants grown under 8 days irrigation intervals. the assessments were consisted of biomass, membrane stability, photosynthetic pigments concentrations, polyphenols content, antioxidant enzymes activities and antioxidant capacity. in comparison with the exclusively water-stressed plants, mf-priming significantly altered these parameters, particularly at 200 mt/5 min. at this intensity, the level of biomass, total chlorophyll and polyphenols content increased by 2.2, 2.5 and 7.7 folds, respectively. furthermore, electrolyte leakage and mda content decreased by 35 and 33%. reducing power, dpph and superoxide anion scavenging activities highly augmented by mf. mf- priming at 200 mt increased catalase (+92%) and ascorbate peroxidase (+2.3 folds) activities. but, the highest activity of guaiacol peroxidase was recorded for mf-primed h. officinalis at 90 mt. in conclusion, seed priming with mf increases drought tolerance in h. officinalis through protection of cellular membrane integrity, maintenance of photosynthetic pigments content and also alternation of antioxidant enzyme activities. it also improves medicinal properties of the shoots via increasing polyphenols concentration and antioxidant capacity.