title: Low-amplitude, high-frequency electromagnetic field exposure causes delayed and reduced growth in Rosa hybrida.
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.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences-UMR 1345 IRHS, Université d'Angers-INRA-Agrocampus Ouest, ARCH-E, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, Campus du Végétal, CS 60057, F-49071 Beaucouzé, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grémiaux
authors.affiliation: Université Blaise Pascal, Institut Pascal, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CNRS, UMR 6602, F-63171 Aubière, France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences-UMR 1345 IRHS, Université d'Angers-INRA-Agrocampus Ouest, ARCH-E, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, Campus du Végétal, CS 60057, F-49071 Beaucouzé, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guérin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences-UMR 1345 IRHS, Université d'Angers-INRA-Agrocampus Ouest, ARCH-E, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, Campus du Végétal, CS 60057, F-49071 Beaucouzé, Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lothier
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zelluläre und Molekulare Botanik Zellbiologie der Pflanzen, Universität Bonn, Kirschallee 1, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: František
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baluška
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, Box 7612, Raleigh, NC 27695-7612 USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Université Blaise Pascal, Institut Pascal, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CNRS, UMR 6602, F-63171 Aubière, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences-UMR 1345 IRHS, Université d'Angers-INRA-Agrocampus Ouest, ARCH-E, SFR 4207 QuaSaV, Campus du Végétal, CS 60057, F-49071 Beaucouzé, Cedex, France. Electronic address: alain.vian@univ-angers.fr.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vian
mesh_terms: D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D027826:Rosa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Electromagnetic field; Growth; Rosa hybrida; Specific Absorption Rate