Title:Wi-Fi Radiation Negatively Influences Plant Growth and Biochemical Responses of Capsicum annuum L var. Pusa Jwala
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ganesh Nikalje*Pooja Rajam
Affiliation:
- Department of Botany, Seva Sadan’s R. K. Talreja College of Arts, Science and Commerce, University of Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Thane-421003,India
Keywords:
Wi-Fi radiation, Capsicum annuum, biochemical response, seed germination, electromagnetic radiations.
Abstract:
Background: Internet browsing has become an indispensable part of day-to-day life.
Computers and the internet have occupied almost all sectors of human life. However, it is an artificial
source of electromagnetic radiation, which has adverse effects on all living things in dose-dependant
manner.
Objective: To understand the impact of electromagnetic radiations on plant, Capsicum annuum L.
var. Pusa jwala emitted by Wi-Fi routers.
Methods: For the germination experiment, Chilli seeds were kept in close vicinity (5 cm) of a Wi--
Fi router for 10 days. For growth and biochemical analysis, different growth and biochemical attributes
were studied after 21 days of exposure. Control seeds/plants were kept in another room
with almost identical conditions like light, temperature, etc. Plant growth was measured in terms of
fresh weight, shoot length, root length, leaf length, leaf breadth and leaf area index. In Biochemical
analysis, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll, soluble protein, lipid peroxidation and proline
contents were measured as per standard protocols.
Results: The seed germination in the vicinity of the Wi-Fi router was reduced to 75% and other
growth-related parameters like root and shoot length, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area index and
fresh weight were significantly reduced. In the biochemical analysis, chlorophyll pigments (Chl. a,
b and total chlorophyll) were observed to be reduced by 4.8, 7.2 and 5.7 fold, respectively and protein
content reduced by 1.5 fold under the influence of electromagnetic radiations. The product of
lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) (18 fold) and proline content (10 fold) was found to be increased
synergistically.
Conclusions: The electromagnetic radiations emitted by the Wi-Fi router have a negative influence
on the growth and biochemical responses in Chilli plants.