Transcript Microwave Radiation Effects on Angiosperm Growth

Microwave Radiation Effects
on Angiosperm Growth
Johnny Daigle
Pittsburgh Central
Catholic High School
Grade 9
PJAS 2008
Angiosperms
• Most diverse type of plant
• Source of food and pharmaceuticals
• Humans have long experimented with
attempts to improve/increase their growth
Radish Sparkler White Tip
• Radishes are a type of
angiosperm that are also a
part of the Brassicacae family
• Radishes are edible
root vegetables
• Brassicaceae are an allocation
of plants in the mustard family
• Radishes can be used as a part of a
homeopathic treatment for many ailments such
as cancer, liver problems, and stomach aches
Spinach Mustard Tendergreen
• Spinach mustard is a type of angiosperm, also a
member of the Brassicaceae
family
• These plants are important
agricultural and horticultural
crops
• Spinach Mustard has many
nutrients with suspected
powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial,
and anti-cancer activities
Microwave Ovens
• Microwave ovens produce electromagnetic radiation of
the precise wavelength that excites water molecules
• This agitation of water molecules makes friction causing
the water to heat up
• Because most foods have a fair amount of water in
them, when microwaves heat up the water in the food,
the food heats up
• Microwave radiation does not penetrate very deep into
food
• Microwave radiation can have adverse effects on life,
depending on power and duration of exposure
Past Studies
• A NASA scientist found that future solarpower systems designed to harvest
sunlight, convert solar energy into weak
microwaves and beam them down to earth
to make electricity, are not harmful to
green plants.
Purpose
• To discover how microwave
radiation effects the growth of two
specific species of angiosperms,
radish and spinach mustard.
Hypotheses
• Null hypothesis – The plants that are
exposed to microwave radiation will not
significantly vary in growth from plants not
exposed to microwave radiation
• Alternative hypothesis – The plants that
are exposed to microwave radiation will
differ in growth from those not exposed to
microwave radiation
Materials
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Spinach mustard Tendergreen seeds
Radish Sparkler White Tip seeds
Plastic wrap
Water squirt bottle
grow rack
Three grow lights
Three cookie sheets
Potting mix
Three planting containers with 32 planting cups in each
Boxes
Microwave oven
Electronic scale
Oven
Procedure
• 1. Potting mix was added to the same height in each
planting cup
• 2. 3 radish seeds were planted in half of the cups and 3
spinach mustard seeds into the other half (108 total
cups)
• 3. The soil was watered with the water squirt bottle
• 4. All cups were sealed with plastic wrap to achieve
green house effect
• 5. Placed blocks on each grow rack under the grow light
to achieve the recommended grow light illumination
• 6. Placed planting containers on top of the blocks so that
the soil was approximately 30 centimeters from the grow
light
• 7. When plants grew to the plastic wrap, the plastic wrap
was removed and they were watered
Procedure (continued)
• 8. As the plants grew, took off necessary blocks so the
plants were always about 30 centimeters from the grow
light
• 9. When the plants grew their first two leaves, the cups
were taken out
• 10. On the same day, 12 of the radish cups were
microwaved (50% power setting) for 2 seconds, 12 for 4
seconds, and 12 for 6 seconds, there were also 12
radish cups not microwaved that served as a control.
The same was done for spinach mustard
• 11. After 28 total days, the plants were removed from the
soil and allowed to dry for 2 days at room temperature.
• 12. The dry mass of each plant was quantified using an
electronic scale (sensitivity of 10-4 grams)
Post-Radiation Dry Mass of Radishes
P = 6.06E-08
0.03
Dry Mass
0.025
0.02
0.015
P < .01
0.01
P < .01
P < .01
0.005
0
control
2 seconds
4 seconds
Microwave Radiation Exposure Time
6 seconds
Post-Radiation Effects on Spinach Mustard
P = 4.61E-05
0.03
Dry Mass
0.025
0.02
0.015
P < .01
P < .01
P < .01
2 seconds
4 seconds
0.01
0.005
0
control
Microwave Radiation Time
6 seconds
Conclusions
• The statistical analysis supports
the REJECTION of the null
hypothesis, indicating that
microwave radiation can affect
plant growth
Limitations / Extensions
• The plants did not grow to their full potential
because they might not have received enough
water
• Seeds could have been more effectively
randomized in their assignment to groups
• Other growth/health parameters (shoot height,
number of leaves, root mass, or germination
frequency) could be analyzed
• Microwave radiation effects on microbes, other
plants, algae, fungi, animals, and human cell
cultures could be tested
References / Acknowledgements
1. Dr. John Wilson, University of Pittsburgh Biostatistician for his
advice concerning statistical analysis
2. http://www.gallawa.com/microtech/howcook.html
3. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2002/02_55AR.ht
ml
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radish
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassica
6. http://universe.nasa.gov/be/Library/EM_Spectrum3-new.jpg
7. www.humeseeds.com/mustard.jp
8. www.georgiasupply.com/images/veggies/RadishSp