Abstract
Radiation from GSM mast is regarded as a harmless but has recently generated a lot of controversies on its bio safety. Roselle naturally has about 50 % flower bud abscission rate, however, this research work is aimed at investigating the influence of radiation from 900 MHz GSM mast on the rate of flower bud production and abscission in Hibiscus sabdariffa. The plants exposed to the mast radiation generally produced significantly lower number of flower buds per plant (ranging from 80.00±9.62 to 106.80±8.17) than the control plants (107.80±15.21). Exceptions were found in locations A 100 m, 400 m and location B 100 m where the values were slightly higher (129.20±34.97, 138.40±19.50 and 118.80±15.80 buds / plant respectively). Abscission in control plants was 55.6 % per plant while in the exposed plants, a range of 40.33 to 48.21 % were obtained. Weak correlations exist between EMF intensities and abscission rate. The significant (p ? 0.05) reductions obtained in flower bud abscission in Hibiscus sabdariffa due to radiation from the GSM mast creates ecological stability for the plant whereby it enhances fruit formation and therefore increases the yield of the plant. If properly harnessed the radiation may play useful roles in the generation of variability and also in plant improvement.
Highlights
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) belongs to the family Malvaceae of the Angiospermae and it is one of the most important and popular food, medicinal and industrial plants whose calyx and leaves are widely eaten
Roselle naturally has about 50 % flower bud abscission rate, this research work is aimed at investigating the influence of radiation from 900 MHz GSM mast on the rate of flower bud production and abscission in Hibiscus sabdariffa
In view of the above, this study examines the impact of the radiation from GSM mast on flower bud abscission in H. sabdariffa
Summary
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) belongs to the family Malvaceae of the Angiospermae and it is one of the most important and popular food, medicinal and industrial plants whose calyx and leaves are widely eaten. Its members are rich in anthocyanin and organic acids (Hong & Wrost-lad, 1990; Gomez-Leyva et al, 2009). It is widely used as additives in the manufacture of several products such as liquor, jellies and jams (Akindahunsi & Olaleye, 2003) and the plant is drought tolerant (Torres-Moranet et al, 2011). Hibiscus sabdariffa is an herbaceous annual plant which is generally cultivated for its fruit (calyces) and leaves. It is a tropical region plant but widely grown in many regions of the world (Duke, 1983; Morton, 1987). Cisse et al (2009) reported that the plant play important roles in income generation and subsistence among rural farmers in developing countries through the sale of the calyces and leaves
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