Fatima Alzhraa Enjrini ^1*, Imad Aldeen Alkhalaf ¹ and Njwa Moslmani ¹

1 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Aleppo, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Fatima Alzhraa Enjrini: fatimaenj92@gmail.com).

Received: 12/ 1/ 2026       Accepted: 31/ 3/ 2026

Abstract: 

Seed germination is one of the most sensitive stages in the plant life cycle, as it determines seedling establishment, subsequent growth, and ultimately crop productivity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of physical treatments, including ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) and microwave radiation, on germination parameters of barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare L.) as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical treatments. The experiment was conducted at the Plant Environment and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Aleppo, using seeds of the white Arabic cultivar. Three treatment methods were applied: direct exposure, irrigation, and soaking in radiation-treated water. UV-C radiation (254 nm) was applied for durations of 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes, while microwave radiation (2450 MHz) was applied for 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 seconds. Germination percentage, germination rate, and mean germination time were evaluated after 7 days. UV-C treatments significantly improved germination, reaching 99% germination and 14 seeds/day, with a reduced mean germination time of 1.6 days compared to 2.1 days in the control. In contrast, direct microwave exposure reduced germination to 1% and completely inhibited it at 60 seconds, while soaking treatments showed moderate improvement. These findings highlight the potential of UV-C to enhance germination under controlled conditions.

Keywords: Ultraviolet radiation, microwave radiation, germination percentage, germination rate, barley (Hordeum vulgare).

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF