Impacts of Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)—Evidence for RF-EMF Interference with Plant Stress Responses

" Our results of field trials suggest that prolonged RF-EMF exposure has a negative impact on plant photosynthesis and development. In six out of seven field trials, HF-EMF exposure induced the progressive reduction of photosynthetic efficiency. Photosynthesis was reduced in both investigated varieties, indicating that this phenomenon is unlikely to be limited to a particular plant cultivar. Individual OJIP parameter analysis revealed a simultaneous decrease in many photosynthetic processes in RF-EMF-exposed plants, particularly towards the end of their life cycle. Such systemic photosynthetic deterioration is usually connected to stress, which typically impacts electron and energy fluxes in and around photosystems PSI and PSII [37]. Another common plant reaction to stress is the early change from vegetative to reproductive development, the formation of flower buds [38]. In our field trials, accelerated flowering was also observed in a subgroup of exposed plants. Together, it can be concluded that exposed plants perceived RF-EMF as a stress factor and reacted accordingly." {Credits 1}

{Credits 1} 🎪 Tran, N.T.; Jokic, L.; Keller, J.; Geier, J.U.; Kaldenhoff, R. Impacts of Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)—Evidence for RF-EMF Interference with Plant Stress Responses. Plants 2023, 12, 1082. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051082. © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.