title: Influence of extremely low-frequency electric fields on the growth of Vigna radiata seedlings.
abstract: The biological effects of extremely low-frequency electric fields (ELF) on living organisms have been explored in many studies, but the results are controversial and only a few studies investigated the influence of the intensity of the applied field on seedling growth. Here we assess the effects of a 50 Hz sinusoidal electric field on the early growth of Vigna radiata seedlings while varying the field intensity. Experiments performed in a dark, constant-climate chamber on several thousands of seedlings show that the field produces an inhibitory effect at a low field intensity and an enhancing one at a higher intensity. The maximum negative effect occurs at about 450 V/m, which is an intensity much lower than the exposure limits currently in force in the safety regulations.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. evelina.costanzo@ct.infn.it
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costanzo
mesh_terms: D004560:Electricity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*