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CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF METER WAVES ON THE GROWTH OF PLANTS

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Kiepenheuer, K.O. · 1972

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Early research showed meter waves could affect plant growth, indicating EMF biological effects occur at cellular levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1972 German research investigated how meter waves (a specific type of radio frequency radiation) affected plant growth patterns. The study represents early scientific recognition that electromagnetic fields could have biological effects on living organisms. While specific findings aren't available, this research contributed to the foundation of bioelectromagnetics science.

Why This Matters

This 1972 study marks an important milestone in EMF research, coming at a time when scientists were just beginning to recognize that electromagnetic fields could affect living systems. The focus on meter waves is particularly relevant because these frequencies overlap with modern radio broadcasting and some industrial applications that we encounter today. What makes this research significant is its early documentation that plants, which lack nervous systems, can still respond to electromagnetic exposure. This suggests that EMF effects operate at fundamental cellular or molecular levels, not just through neural pathways. The reality is that if meter wave radiation can alter plant growth, we should take seriously the possibility that similar frequencies affect human biology too.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

graphPage 2 - AI-described figure: A graph showing the effect of varying field strengths on cell division rate in Vicia Faba plants.
p. 2 of the original PDF
graphPage 3 - AI-described figure: Figure 1: Frequency of chromosome fragments in root tip cells at different doses during anaphase and telophase.
p. 3 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 MHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 3 minutes to 12 hours

Study Details

To examine the biological effects of meter waves on plant growth, particularly focusing on cell division and chromosome behavior in plant cells.

Experiments were conducted on Vicia Faba (broad bean) seedlings using linearly polarized radiation f...

The biological effect of meter waves can be detected at field strengths as low as 10^-8 volts/cm. Hi...

The study demonstrates that meter waves have measurable biological effects on plant growth, particularly affecting cell division rates. The effects are specific and occur at very low field strengths. The research suggests that solar radiation in the meter wave range may influence plant growth through direct biological mechanisms rather than thermal effects. The findings indicate that the effects are not due to thermal heating but rather to specific biological sensitivity to electromagnetic fields.

Cite This Study
Kiepenheuer, K.O. (1972). CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF METER WAVES ON THE GROWTH OF PLANTS.
Show BibTeX
@article{concerning_the_effect_of_meter_waves_on_the_growth_of_plants_g4190,
  author = {Kiepenheuer and K.O.},
  title = {CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF METER WAVES ON THE GROWTH OF PLANTS},
  year = {1972},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Meter waves are radio frequencies with wavelengths of 1-10 meters, corresponding to frequencies of 30-300 MHz. This range overlaps with FM radio broadcasts, some television channels, and various industrial heating applications that people encounter daily.
Plants provide ideal test subjects because they can't move away from radiation sources and lack nervous systems, making any observed effects clearly biological rather than behavioral. This helps isolate true electromagnetic field effects on living tissue.
If electromagnetic fields can affect plant growth at the cellular level, this suggests EMF exposure operates through fundamental biological mechanisms that could also impact human cells, tissues, and physiological processes.
This research was among the early scientific investigations documenting biological effects from electromagnetic fields, helping establish the field of bioelectromagnetics and demonstrating that EMF effects weren't limited to heating or electrical stimulation.
Yes, FM radio stations broadcast at 88-108 MHz, some television channels use similar frequencies, and various industrial heating applications operate in the meter wave range, making this historical research relevant to current exposures.