Communication technologies are moving toward higher microwave frequencies and bandwidths to satisfy the growing demand for high data rates. The concern about the possible effects of microwaves on plants and animals has increased recently. There is still uncertainty concerning the effects of microwaves on plants. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio band microwaves on seedlings and seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.). In vitro growing A. thaliana wild-type seedlings and seeds were exposed to 2.45 GHz continuous-wave microwaves at a power flux density of 1.0 ± 0.1 W m−2 for 48 h. Microwave exposure increased the hydrogen peroxide content, photosynthetic pigments, nonphotochemical quenching and fluorescence of the seedlings, while peroxidase activity and Fv/Fm values were unchanged. Anthocyanin and malondialdehyde were decreased. Seed germination rate, fresh weight and photosynthetic pigment contents of 10-day-old seedlings obtained from microwaves exposed seeds remained unchanged. Results confirmed the inexistence of oxidative stress but a stimulatory effect of microwave on A. thaliana seedlings. The increased hydrogen peroxide content and nonphotochemical quenching suggest acceptance of extra photon energy and a portion of the excess captured photon passing through the photosystem, while a portion of energy dissipated as heat.

中文翻译：

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低功率密度 2.45 GHz 微波暴露对拟南芥幼苗体外的刺激作用

通信技术正朝着更高的微波频率和带宽发展，以满足对高数据速率不断增长的需求。最近，人们越来越担心微波对植物和动物可能产生的影响。微波对植物的影响仍存在不确定性。本研究旨在调查工业、科学和医学 (ISM) 无线电波段微波对拟南芥 (L.) 幼苗和种子的影响。体外生长的拟南芥野生型幼苗和种子以 1.0 ± 0.1 W m-2 的功率通量密度暴露于 2.45 GHz 连续波微波 48 小时。微波暴露增加了幼苗的过氧化氢含量、光合色素、非光化学猝灭和荧光，而过氧化物酶活性和 Fv/Fm 值没有变化。花青素和丙二醛减少。从微波暴露的种子中获得的 10 天龄幼苗的种子发芽率、鲜重和光合色素含量保持不变。结果证实了氧化应激不存在，但微波对拟南芥幼苗有刺激作用。增加的过氧化氢含量和非光化学猝灭表明接受额外的光子能量和一部分过量捕获的光子通过光系统，而一部分能量以热量的形式消散。拟南芥幼苗。增加的过氧化氢含量和非光化学猝灭表明接受额外的光子能量和一部分过量捕获的光子通过光系统，而一部分能量以热量的形式消散。拟南芥幼苗。增加的过氧化氢含量和非光化学猝灭表明接受额外的光子能量和一部分过量捕获的光子通过光系统，而一部分能量以热量的形式消散。