Effect of Electromagnetic (Non-Ionizing Radiation) Waves on Germination and Some of Productivity Traits for Bread Wheat (Adana 99)

Abstract

Pollution by electromagnetic waves has become like other pollutants, especially with the increase in the number of communication towers as a result of technical progress and the development of communication networks. The seeds were treated with electromagnetic waves at the following distances (0,10,30,50 cm) and for a period of (0,15,30,60 min).

The experiment recorded a significant decrease in the traits of spike weight and spike length with different distances from the source of electromagnetic waves, while the effect of distances was not significant on the rest of the traits. The exposure periods also recorded a significant decrease in plant height (cm), plant dry weight (gm) and spike length (cm).  The number of grains/spike and the weight of 10 spikes (g). While the exposure periods were not significant with the trait of germination percentage and spike weight. The interaction between periods of exposure to electromagnetic waves × distances was also recorded as significant change between the zero distance × all exposure periods for all traits except for the percentage of germination and significant interaction between the distance  10 × all exposure periods for the traits of the weight of the spike and the number of grains / spike, and the interaction was also significant between the distance 30 × all periods of exposure to the characteristic of the dry weight of the plant and the weight of the spike (g) and the number of grains / spike, as well as the significant interaction between the distance 50 × all exposure periods for the characteristic of the number of seeds grains/spike and weight 10 spikes. the electromagnetic waves did not kill the wheat seeds, but left negative effects on the production elements of wheat and that the amount of damage depends on the exposure period and the distance from the source of the waves.