Comparative Effects Of Uhf Emr On Plants Of The Order Dicotyledonae Ery Anguiano, Johnny Ng
Itineris Early College High School, West Jordan Utah, United States
This project involved subjecting different species of plants to radio waves in the ultra high frequency electromagnetic radiation (UHF EMR) region. Its effects on plant height, biomass, and protein distribution patterns were examined as a consequence of the treatment. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the radiation`s effects on plants that are exposed to similar commercial radio frequencies in their environments and to establish its potential viability in agriculture. Plants tested were: Phaseolus vulgaris, Lycopersicon esculentum, Avena sativa, Lolium multiflorum, and Fagopyrum esculentum.
The different plant species were separated into three categories: Experimental, Control, and Standard. The Experimental groups were submitted to UHF EMR for three hours within a dark enclosure. Radiation was emitted through an antenna connected to a radio transmitter tuned to a 462.125MHz frequency and transmitting at 5 watts. To eliminate the exposure hazards of EMR, treatment was given inside a Hoffman electrical enclosure. Simultaneously, the control groups were administered three hours of darkness within sealed plastic containers. The standard groups remained in ambient lighting throughout the entire experimentation session.
Height was measured in centimeters from a uniform soil level to the apical meristem. A biomass value was obtained by removing and weighing the plant tissue. Proteins were extracted from leaf samples with 10 % TCA and 0.07 % 2-mercaptoethanol for SDS-PAGE analysis.
Our research indicates that UHF EMR positively contributes to the height and weight of the exposed plants in the first several days of treatment, but has a negative impact on long-term growth.