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Effects of Radiofrequency Electric Fields on Seeds of Nicotiana tabacum L. 1
Author(s) -
Burk L. G.,
Nelson S. O.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1964.0011183x000400010032x
Subject(s) - geneticist , nicotiana tabacum , library science , service (business) , agriculture , biology , crop , citation , operations research , agronomy , computer science , mathematics , marketing , genetics , ecology , business , gene
"EXPERIMENTAL methods have been developed using •*-' radiofrequency (rf) energy to control insect infestations in stored-grain products (7) and enhance seed germination (6). These results suggest that rf treatments at higher levels might also produce deleterious side effects. Tobacco was chosen for treatment because of its small seed size and high seed yield per fruit (1500±). These factors permitted the examination of large numbers of germinating seeds and seedlings with a limited expenditure of time and space. When absorbed by biological material, one component of rf energy is heat, and heat is known to have a mutagenic effect (1). However, heat alone may not be fully responsible for rf effects. A case in point is suggested by the work of Heller and Teixeira-Pinto (4) who minimized the thermal component of rf energy by the use of a pulsed rf source. In large immobilized micro-organisms, Heller and Teixeira-Pinto noted an intracellular orientation of subcellular particles when the electric fields were impressed. Their belief that this force had a mutagenic potential was strengthened by the presence of chromosome irregularities in the root tips of rf-treated garlic. The effects of rf seed treatments on germination, and morphological and cytological changes in seedlings and mature tobacco plants were investigated. Following rf treatment, seeds were germinated and plants with morphological and cytological aberrancies were selected. Progenies from some of the aberrant plants were also studied. Although it was not possible to delimit specific components of rf energy, observations indicate that rf energy can induce genetic alterations in tobacco plants.