Low-amplitude, high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure causes delayed and reduced growth in Rosa hybrida.

Journal of plant physiology · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4724

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of plant physiology · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

It is now accepted that plants perceive high-frequency electromagnetic field (HF-EMF). We wondered if the HF-EMF signal is integrated further in planta as a chain of reactions leading to a modification of plant growth. We exposed whole small ligneous plants (rose bush) whose growth could be studied for several weeks. We performed exposures at two different development stages (rooted cuttings bearing an axillary bud and 5-leaf stage plants), using two high frequency (900MHz) field amplitudes (5 and 200Vm(-1)). We achieved a tight control on the experimental conditions using a state-of-the-art stimulation device (Mode Stirred Reverberation Chamber) and specialized culture-chambers. After the exposure, we followed the shoot growth for over a one-month period. We observed no growth modification whatsoever exposure was performed on the 5-leaf stage plants. When the exposure was performed on the rooted cuttings, no growth modification was observed on Axis I (produced from the elongation of the axillary bud). Likewise, no significant modification was noted on Axis II produced at the base of Axis I, that came from pre-formed secondary axillary buds. In contrast, Axis II produced at the top of Axis I, that came from post-formed secondary buds consistently displayed a delayed and significant reduced growth (45%). The measurements of plant energy uptake from HF-EMF in this exposure condition (SAR of 7.2 10(-4)Wkg(-1)) indicated that this biological response is likely not due to thermal effect. These results suggest that exposure to electromagnetic field only affected development of post-formed organs.

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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

PopulationRosa hybrida (rose bush) plants at two development stages (rooted cuttings bearing an axillary bud; 5-leaf stage plants)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 900 MHz · 0.00072 W/kg · followed shoot growth for over a one-month period (post-exposure follow-up); exposure duration not stated

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to 900 MHz fields at 5 or 200 V/m produced no growth modification when applied at the 5-leaf stage. When applied to rooted cuttings, Axis I and Axis II from pre-formed buds showed no significant changes, but Axis II from post-formed secondary buds showed delayed and significantly reduced growth (~45%). Reported SAR (7.2×10^-4 W/kg) suggested the response was likely not due to thermal effects.

Outcomes measured

Shoot growth over >1 month
Growth modification on Axis I (elongation of axillary bud)
Growth modification on Axis II from pre-formed secondary axillary buds (base of Axis I)
Growth modification on Axis II from post-formed secondary buds (top of Axis I)
Energy uptake / SAR (thermal vs non-thermal inference)

Limitations

Exposure duration not reported in abstract
Sample size not reported in abstract
Plant study; generalizability to other species or conditions not addressed in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": 0.00072,
    "duration": "followed shoot growth for over a one-month period (post-exposure follow-up); exposure duration not stated"
  },
  "population": "Rosa hybrida (rose bush) plants at two development stages (rooted cuttings bearing an axillary bud; 5-leaf stage plants)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Shoot growth over >1 month",
    "Growth modification on Axis I (elongation of axillary bud)",
    "Growth modification on Axis II from pre-formed secondary axillary buds (base of Axis I)",
    "Growth modification on Axis II from post-formed secondary buds (top of Axis I)",
    "Energy uptake / SAR (thermal vs non-thermal inference)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to 900 MHz fields at 5 or 200 V/m produced no growth modification when applied at the 5-leaf stage. When applied to rooted cuttings, Axis I and Axis II from pre-formed buds showed no significant changes, but Axis II from post-formed secondary buds showed delayed and significantly reduced growth (~45%). Reported SAR (7.2×10^-4 W/kg) suggested the response was likely not due to thermal effects.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Plant study; generalizability to other species or conditions not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Rosa hybrida",
    "plant growth",
    "high-frequency electromagnetic field",
    "HF-EMF",
    "RF exposure",
    "900 MHz",
    "V/m",
    "SAR",
    "non-thermal",
    "developmental stage",
    "post-formed organs"
  ],
  "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: 10.1016/j.jplph.2015.11.004
PubMed: 26643955

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