Effects of a high voltage electric field on the physiology and metabolism of arthropod populations on balsam pear crops

Author of the article:LI Xue-Mei；LIU Xing-Fa；ZHANG Jian-Gong；ZHENG Xiao-Xu；HE Shuai-Jie；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 power transmission; balsam pear; chlorophyll; enzyme activity; pests; natural enemies

Abstract：

[Objectives]  To study the effect of high-voltage electrostatic fields on the physiology and metabolism, and the diversity and number of pests and their natural enemies, on balsam pear crops, in order to provide practical guidance for understanding the effects of electromagnetic radiation from the State Grid. [Methods]  In the field experiment, balsam pear plants were continuously exposed to three kinds of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (0, 2, 10 kV/m), and their growth and enzyme activity in their leaves measured. Populations of pests and their natural enemies under the three UHV electric fields were also measured and compared. [Results]  Plants in the 10 kV/m electric field treatment had significantly fewer functional blades than those in the 2 kV/m treatment in June (June 10, June 20) (P<0.05). Electromagnetic field intensity had no effect on protective enzyme activity during the seedling period. However, plants in the 2 kV/m electric field treatment had significantly higher POD activity than those in the 0 kV/m and 10 kV/m treatments during the flowering period (P<0.05). Moreover, SOD and POD activity increased significantly in the 10 kV/m treatment compared to the 2 kV/m treatment during the fruiting period (P<0.05). Significantly more of the pest species Aulacophora indica, Adelphocoris suturalis, Diaphania indica and Tetranychus cinnbarinus were found on plants in the 10 kV/m treatment than on those in the 0 kV/m, 2 kV/m treatments (P<0.05). Significantly more Chrysoperla sinica and Araneus ventricosus, natural enemies of the above pests, were found in 10 kV/m treatment than in the 0 kV/m, 2 kV/m treatments (P<0.05). [Conclusion]  Balsam pear plants in the 2 kV/m treatment group grew significantly better than those in the 0 kV/m and 10 kV/m treatments, and the 10 kV/m UHV treatment significantly increased SOD and POD enzyme activity during the fruiting stage. The high-voltage 10 kV/m treatment inhibited the total number of functional leaves and photosynthesis. Short-term electromagnetic field exposure had no significant effect on protective enzyme activity during the seedling period. Protective enzyme (POD and SOD) activity increased with duration of exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Exposure to a high-voltage electrostatic field of 10 kV/m increased the abundance of both pests and their natural enemies.