The effects of a short (15 and 30 s) exposure of durum wheat (Triticum durum) seeds to extremely low frequency magnetic field (f = 50 Hz, B = 15 mT) on germination and seedling growth under controlled laboratory conditions were studied. Germination rate, fresh weight of seedlings, seedlings height and chlorophyll contents were measured the 4^th and 8^th day after sowing. Magnetic field did not influence the seed germination process. Fresh weight was affected by applied treatments in the first four days (118% and 89% of control plans for 15 s and 30 s treatment, respectively). In the further period, the action of magnetic field (MF) pre-treatment on growth of seedlings was eliminated, resulting in compensation of growth potentialities. The chlorophyll levels in seedlings were significantly modified, on both the 4^th (120% and 87% of control plans for 15 s and 30 s treatment, respectively) and 8^th (94% for 15 s treatment and 96% for 30 s) days. However, the chlorophyll a and b ratios remained unchanged after MF treatments. The results show that MF may have, a mostly temporary, negative and positive effect on early growth, which is strongly dependent on the applied exposure time.