Effects of weak 162/3 Hz magnetic fields on growth parameters of young sunflower and wheat seedlings

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 16(2/3) Hz. In the present study, sunflower and wheat seedlings were exposed to 16(2/3) Hz sinusoidal 20 muT (rms) vertical magnetic 3 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. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.