Intercellular communication in plants: evidence for two rapidly transmitted systemic signals generated in response to electromagnetic field stimulation in tomato

Abstract

Exposing all of a wild-type tomato plant to electromagnetic radiation evoked rapid and substantial accumulation of basic leucine-zipper transcription factor (bZIP) mRNA in the terminal leaf (#4) with kinetics very similar to that seen in response to wounding, while in the abscisic acid (ABA) mutant (Sitiens), the response was more rapid, but transient. Submitting just the oldest leaf (#1) of a wild-type plant to irradiation evoked bZIP mRNA accumulation both locally in the exposed leaf and systemically in the unexposed (distant) leaf #4, although systemic accumulation was delayed somewhat. Accumulation of Pin2 mRNA was less than bZIP in both the exposed and distant leaves in wild type, but there was no delay in the systemic response. In Sitiens, bZIP mRNA accumulation was far less than in wild type in both local and distant leaves, while Pin2 mRNA accumulation was stronger in the exposed leaf, but totally prevented in the systemic leaf. In the jasmonic acid (JA) mutant (JL-5) and in wild-type plants treated with the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor, naproxen, responses were similar to those in the ABA mutant, while treatment of the exposed leaf with calcium antagonists totally abolished both local and systemic increases in bZIP transcript accumulation.

Human keratinocytes in culture exhibit no response when exposed to short duration, low amplitude, high frequency (900 MHz) electromagnetic fields in a reverberation chamber

“…Previous work from our group demonstrated an unequivocal link between low amplitude, short duration HF EMF exposure and stress-related mRNA accumulation in tomato plants [Roux et al, , 2008Vian et al, 2006;Beaubois et al, 2007], which showed very similar characteristics to those observed after injurious treatments [Vian et al, 1999]. We proposed that plants, especially leaves, have an architecture (planar surfaces) designed to maximize acquisition of matter (gases), energy (sunlight), and information (e.g., EMF) from their environment .…”

“…These responses were highly dependent on physiological levels of Ca 2þ and were totally prevented by treatment with calcium-counteracting drugs. These responses were also systemic, that is, they occurred with the same kinetics and amplitude in the EMF-protected youngest leaf when only the oldest leaf was exposed [Beaubois et al, 2007]. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that HF EMF can trigger responses very similar to those observed in plants after injurious stimuli, such as wounding and flaming [Vian et al, 1999].…”

Plants and Animals: Convergent Evolution in Action?

“…Even high-frequency low-amplitude electromagnetic fields induced by wireless devices induce rapid changes in plant cells ) . On top of this, plants are much more sensitive to low-amplitude electromagnetic fields than animals (Beaubois et al 2007 ;Roux et al 2008) .…”

Effects of Gsm900 Electromagnetic Fields on Some Parameters of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Crop Plants Wheat, Maize and Peas

“…Ïðåç ïîñëåäíèòå ãîäèíè íàðàñòâà èíòåðåñúò íà ó÷åíèòå êúì åôåêòèòå íà ÅÌÏ îò ìîáèëíè òåëåôîíè âúðõó ðàñòåíèÿ. Ðåçóëòàòèòå îò ïðîâåäåíèòå èçñëåä-âàíèÿ ïîêàçâàò, ÷å ðàñòåíèÿòà ðåàãèðàò íà òåçè ÅÌÏ êàòî íà ñòðåñîâ ôàêòîð (Beaubois, 2007;Roux, 2008; T. Selga and M.Selga, 1996;Tafforeau, 2004;Tkalec, 2005Tkalec, , 2007Vian, 2006).…”