Uruguay develops pioneering magnetic technology that accelerates seed germination

Researchers at the Technological University (UTEC) of Uruguay are at the forefront of a groundbreaking project in vegetal magneto-stimulation, capable of accelerating seed germination by up to 50%. This pioneering technology, developed entirely within the South American nation, promises to enhance plant vigor and optimize resource utilization.

Colombian researcher Hernando Jiménez, affiliated with UTEC and Colombia's Antonio Nariño University, explained that the process involves exposing seeds to ideal magnetic field conditions for a mere 10 to 20 seconds. "We achieve faster and more vigorous germination, which means better use of resources," Jiménez stated during the fifth edition of Expo Uruguay Sostenible, where a prototype was exhibited.

The magnetizing equipment was designed and built specifically for this purpose by UTEC's Mechatronics and Agro-environmental Engineering students. The project, unique in Uruguay and with few regional precedents focusing on direct current equipment, has two primary application areas. Firstly, it aids in the conservation of native flora at risk, such as the espinillo tree or the butiá palm.

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We achieve faster and more vigorous germination, which means better use of resources.

Jiménez highlighted the significant success with the butiá palm, a species threatened by the red palm weevil, which typically has an extremely slow germination period, often taking months or years. "We started working and managed to achieve germination in three days, when the best reports in the literature spoke of day 40 or 50," he celebrated, expressing optimism about its potential for reforestation of native forests endangered by the coleopteran insect.

Secondly, the technology holds the potential to revolutionize commercial agriculture. Jiménez noted that while tomato seeds usually germinate between the fifth and seventh day, this magneto-stimulation technique has reduced that time to just the second day. He projects that reducing germination time by 40% to 50% translates into significant cost savings and optimal use of resources like water. Further applications are envisioned in the timber industry to accelerate tree growth and in inhibiting crop-affecting fungi.

After two years of laboratory work, the team's current challenge is scaling the technology. Jiménez indicated that the short-term goal is to secure funding for a "compact and portable commercial device." This tool would enable small producers to treat thousands of seeds directly in the field, providing them with a competitive edge. With current funding, the team estimates a pre-commercial version could be ready within a year.

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We started working and managed to achieve germination in three days, when the best reports in the literature spoke of day 40 or 50.