Microwave Radiation on Garden Bean Seeds

Microwave Radiation

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes microwaves as a form of electromagnetic radiation in which waves of electrical and magnetic energy move through space together. Although electromagnetic radiation includes powerful x-rays, microwave radiation is a significantly less powerful form of electromagnetic radiation. Microwaves pass through materials such as glass, plastic, paper and ceramics but are absorbed by food. The microwaves excite the water molecules in the food, which causes friction that creates heat that cooks the food.

Microwaves and Bean Seeds

• Garden bean seeds react to microwave radiation in a manner similar to food's reaction, by absorbing the microwaves. Bean seeds have a tough seed coat. Most gardeners soak the seeds overnight before planting in order to weaken the seed coat and speed germination. An experiment presented at the 2007 California State Science Fair concluded that exposing bean seed to the microwave radiation of a home microwave oven for 10 or 15 seconds weakened the seed coat and expedited germination, allowing the plants to grower quicker and taller. Additionally, a 2005 study published in the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology concluded that eight seconds of exposure to microwave radiation increased enzyme activity in the seeds.

Home Experiment

• In order to experience first-hand the effect microwave radiation has on garden bean seeds, try a little experiment at home. Collect one packet of beans seeds, eight plastic cups, potting soil, water and a microwave oven. Have paper and pencil handy to record your methods and your results. Plant two seeds in a cup of soil as your control group. Place two seeds at a time in the microwave oven for different amounts of time but at the same power setting. Plant each set of two seeds in a plastic cup, label the cup, water the soil and record their growth rate.

Irradiated Soil and Water

• The bean seeds are not the only part of the food production process that is affected by microwave radiation. In a 2009 experiment, Dr. John J. Ohab and his student Lalaram Guyadin found that microwave radiation also affect water and soil. Exposing soil or water to microwave radiation for up to one minute improved germination, and exposing water longer did not change the results. However, exposing the soil for two and four minutes negatively affected the number of seeds that germinated.