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Electromagnetic Waves from GSM Mobile Phone Simulator and Abiotic Stress in Zea mays L.

Habibeh Zare, Sasan Mohsenzadeh and Ali Moradshahi

         Here we investigate the effect of electromagnetic waves with high radio frequency radiation on the antioxidant activities and seed germination of Zea mays. Three groups of Zea mays seeds were used in this study. The first group was only exposed to RF radiation emitted from the mobile phone simulator. The second group was only exposed to RF radiation emitted from the mobile phone simulator while it was switched off. The third group served as the control. Data showed that the level of germination was significantly higher when seeds were exposed to an electromagnetic field of 900 MHz (EMF), The effects of electromagnetic waves with high frequency (940 MHZ) were studied on lipid peroxidation and proline content in leaves of Zea mays. Thirteen-day-old seedlings were subjected to two types of electromagnetic wave treatments for 7 days. The two treatments were indicated according to their duration of exposure to the waves, i.e. (i) exposure for 3 hours a day and (ii) 5 hours a day. After 20 days, the malondealdehyde (MDA) content in the leaves of the treated plants were measured as an indication of lipid peroxidation. We also measured the amino acid proline as a biomarker in abiotic stress. Here the abiotic stress is to be the electromagnetic field with high frequency (940 MHz). Our results show that electromagnetic field causes an increase in MDA content in leaves, compared with the control, sourced from the GSM simulator. Furthermore, catalase enzyme activity increased as a result of exposure to EMF.
         Which may be due to the induction of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation? Proline content increased significantly in plants treated with the electromagnetic field (940 MHz). The increase in proline content is the plant’s countermeasure against abiotic stress.