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

TheScientificWorldJournal · 2012 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4524

Healthy and infected lime trees exposed discontinuously to a 10 kHz quadratic EMF (maximum power 9 W) for 5 days (5 h/day) showed increased fresh and dry leaf weight and increased MDA, proline, and protein compared with controls. EMF exposure decreased hydrog…

Study snapshot

PublicationTheScientificWorldJournal · 2012

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

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 H(2)O(2), 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.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationTwo-year-old lime (Citrus aurantifolia) trees (healthy and infected with Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifoliae)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.01 MHz · 5 days; 5 h/day (discontinuous exposure)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Fresh weight of leaves
Dry weight of leaves
Lipid peroxidation (MDA)
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content
Proline content
Protein content
Carbohydrates content

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure metric reported as maximum power (9 W) without field strength at plant location
Discontinuous exposure pattern not fully described beyond total duration
Only short-term exposure (5 days) reported
Plant study; relevance to human health not addressed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": 0.01,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "5 days; 5 h/day (discontinuous exposure)"
  },
  "population": "Two-year-old lime (Citrus aurantifolia) trees (healthy and infected with Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifoliae)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Fresh weight of leaves",
    "Dry weight of leaves",
    "Lipid peroxidation (MDA)",
    "Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content",
    "Proline content",
    "Protein content",
    "Carbohydrates content"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Healthy and infected lime trees exposed discontinuously to a 10 kHz quadratic EMF (maximum power 9 W) for 5 days (5 h/day) showed increased fresh and dry leaf weight and increased MDA, proline, and protein compared with controls. EMF exposure decreased hydrogen peroxide and carbohydrate content in both healthy and infected plants compared with controls.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure metric reported as maximum power (9 W) without field strength at plant location",
    "Discontinuous exposure pattern not fully described beyond total duration",
    "Only short-term exposure (5 days) reported",
    "Plant study; relevance to human health not addressed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "10 kHz",
    "quadratic EMF",
    "Citrus aurantifolia",
    "lime tree",
    "phytoplasma",
    "Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifoliae",
    "MDA",
    "lipid peroxidation",
    "hydrogen peroxide",
    "proline",
    "protein",
    "carbohydrates"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1100/2012/716929
PubMed: 22649313

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