Effect of exposure to a UHV electric field on the physiological metabolism, and insect community, of pepper plants
Author of the article:HE Shuai-Jie；LIU Xing-Fa；ZHANG Jian-Gong；ZHENG Xiao-Xu； LI Xue-Mei；XIAO Neng-Wen；WU Gang
Author's Workplace：1. College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; 2. Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Power Network Environmental Protection, China Electric Power Research Institute, Wuhan 430074, China; 3. Institute of Ecology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Key Words：UHV electric field; pepper; nutrients; enzyme activity; pests; natural enemies
Abstract：
[Objectives] To
evaluate the effect of different UHV electric fields on the development of
pepper plants, and on populations of insect pests and their natural enemies on
these plants, in order to evaluate the environmental safety of UHV electric
fields for both plants and insects. [Methods] Pepper
plants were continuously exposed to three UHV electric fields (0, 2, 10 kV/m)
in the field, and their growth and the enzyme (superoxide dismutase SOD,
catalase CAT, Peroxidase POD, glutathione sulfhydryl transferase, GST) activity
in their leaves, measured and compared. Populations of pests and their natural
enemies were also quantified. [Results] Plants in the 2 kV/m electric field
treatment were significantly taller
and had thicker stem diameters than those in the 0 kV/m and 10 kV/m treatments (P<0.05). Plants in the 2 kV/m electric field treatment
and also had significantly higher SOD and POD activity
than those in the 0 kV/m and 10 kV/m treatments during the seedling and
flowering period (P<0.05). SOD and POD activity
increased significantly in the 10
kV/m electric field treatment compared to the 2 kV/m treatment (P<0.05). However, CAT activity was significantly lower in the 2 kV/m and 10 kV/m electric field
treatments than in the 0 kV/m treatment. With respect to pest abundance, significantly fewer Aulacophora
indica and Thrips
flevas were found in the 10 kV/m
electric field treatment than in the 2 kV/m treatments (P<0.05).
However, Aphis
gossypol numbers were significantly higher in the 2 kV/m electric field treatment
relative to the 10 kV/m treatments (P<0.05). With
respect to the natural enemies of pests, significantly
more Hylyplantes graminicola and Chrysoperla
sinica were found in the 10 kV/m
electric field treatment than in the 0 kV/m and 2 kV/m treatments (P<0.05). [Conclusion] Pepper plants grew significantly
better in the 2 kV/m than in the 0 kV/m and 10 kV/m electromagnetic field
treatments. However, SOD and POD enzyme activity were significantly increased
in the 10 kv/m UHV electric field treatment during the fruiting stage. Numbers of the pests A. indica and T. flevas were significantly lower, and
numbers of their natural enemies H.
graminicola and C. sinica significantly higher, in the
10 kV/m UHV electric field treatment than the 0 kV/m and 2 kV/m treatments.