Biological effects of weak electromagnetic field on healthy and infected lime (Citrus aurantifolia) trees with phytoplasma.

Fatemeh Abdollahi,Faezeh Ghanati,Seyyed Nasr Noorbakhsh,Faribors Masroor,Vahid Niknam

doi:10.1100/2012/716929

Fatemeh Abdollahi, Faezeh Ghanati + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/716929

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Abstract

Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) has become an issue of concern for a great many people and is an active area of research. Phytoplasmas, also known as mycoplasma-like organisms, are wall-less prokaryotes that are pathogens of many plant species throughout the world. Effects of electromagnetic fields on the changes of lipid peroxidation, content of H2O2, proline, protein, and carbohydrates were investigated in leaves of two-year-old trees of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) infected by the Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifoliae. The healthy and infected plants were discontinuously exposed to a 10 KHz quadratic EMF with maximum power of 9 W for 5 days, each 5 h, at 25°C. Fresh and dry weight of leaves, content of MDA, proline, and protein increased in both healthy and infected plants under electromagnetic fields, compared with those of the control plants. Electromagnetic fields decreased hydrogen peroxide and carbohydrates content in both healthy and infected plants compared to those of the controls.

Highlights

During the past years considerable evidence has been accumulated with notice to the biological effects of low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), such as those bringing from modern world such as power lines and household electrical wiring [1, 2]
The international discussion about the biological effects of electromagnetic fields, in which we were involved in the past [6], led us to examine the possibility of using such fields to inhibit phytoplasmas growth on plants such as lime
The obtained result show that 10 KHz EMF field can simulate the growth rate of healthy and infected lime plants

Summary

Introduction

During the past years considerable evidence has been accumulated with notice to the biological effects of low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF), such as those bringing from modern world such as power lines and household electrical wiring [1, 2]. The effects of electromagnetic fields of much lower frequency than visible light on plant growth and development have rarely been studied until relatively recently, and knowledge is still limited. Several studies have been showed that low-frequency EMFs may influence plant growth and development [3,4,5]. The international discussion about the biological effects of electromagnetic fields, in which we were involved in the past [6], led us to examine the possibility of using such fields to inhibit phytoplasmas growth on plants such as lime. Knowledge about phytoplasmas has been limited by inability to isolate them in pure culture

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