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Effects of weak $16{2\over3}$ Hz magnetic fields on growth parameters of young sunflower and wheat seedlings
Author(s) -
Fischer G.,
Tausz M.,
Köck M.,
Grill Dieter
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.20058
Subject(s) - sunflower , germination , bioelectromagnetics , helianthus annuus , shoot , horticulture , dry weight , agronomy , biology , magnetic field , botany , physics , quantum mechanics
Previous studies on effects of magnetic fields on plants focussed on the power frequencies (50–60 Hz), but in Austria and Germany electric railways are powered by a frequency of 16⅔ Hz. In the present study, sunflower and wheat seedlings were exposed to 16⅔ Hz sinusoidal 20 μT (rms) vertical magnetic fields. Seeds were germinated in a germination roll and grown for 12 days under continued exposure. Seven series with sunflower and six series with wheat were done over 2 years. Sunflower seedlings exposed to experimental magnetic field showed small, but significant increases in total fresh weights, shoot fresh weights, and root fresh weights, whereas dry weights and germination rates remained unaffected. Experimentally treated wheat exhibited marginally (but significantly) higher root fresh and dry weights, total fresh weights, and higher germination rates. Bioelectromagnetics 25:638–641, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.