Effects of electromagnetic field of 33 and 275 kV influences on physiological, biochemical and antioxidant system changes of leaf mustard (Brassica chinensis)

Abstract

The effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) from 33 and 275 kV high voltage transmission line on biochemical and antioxidant system changes in mustard leaf (Brassica chinensis) were investigated under field condition. Mustard leaves were exposed to EMF from power lines at distances of 0, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 30, 40, 50 and 60 m away from the 33 kV power line and at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 m away from the 275 kV transmission lines. The effects of EMF from 33 kV power lines on leaf mustard planted at different distances from the line showed that leaf mustard planted within 20 m from the line had significantly (p< 0.05) higher protein, soluble protein, soluble nitrogen and chlorophyll contents due to the higher EMF strength which decreased with increasing distance from the line. Higher EMF strength nearer to the 275 kV power line resulted in higher peroxidase enzymatic activity, and chlorophyll content. Protein electrophoretic profile obtained from sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) analysis revealed no drastic alterations in the leaf mustard protein profiles. This suggests that electromagnetic field could be used as a tool to promote mustard growth via photosynthesis once the right EMF strength and duration of exposure has been established through future studies. Key words: Mustard, electromagnetic field, biochemical markers.