INVESTIGATION OF THE KIRLIAN PHENOMENON IN INSECTICIDE TREATED PLANTS Prepared by: 31 August 1972 0-" p,pproved f 0 7 INVESTIGATION OF TI-IE KIRLIAN PHENOMENON IN INSECTICIDE TREATED PLANTS INTRODUCTION ha s c ond uc ted an inve s tigation of the The Kirlian photographic technique in an attempt to detect the presence of a Dyfonate) in various species of commer2cial soil insecticide plants. Dyfonate is a 57a granu'Lar organo-phosphorus soil insectide, said to be a non- systemic agent. The insecticide. solution was poured over each leaf and ultimately accumulated in the soil of the individual pot. Vibrator excited, dampened high-voltage pulses were applied to radishes, pinto beans, and harvester beans in the Kirlian camera. Color pictures were taken of plants in the untre9ated control group, low dosage and high dosage groups at intervals of one, two and four days after exposure. SUMMARY AND CONCLUS101",'S The pliotographs appear to show no gross changes from day to day or between control and the two treated groups. This result does not necessarily indicate that the Kirlian technique is incapable of detecting this organo-phosphorous insecticide since spectroscopic analysis was not carried out. Also, if the acyent is truly non-systemic, lar1ge-concentrations would not be expected on the leaves. Further investigation using systemic insecticides such as Di Syston or Furadan could have positive results when applied in a carefully controlled test. Test Procelure and Results A high voltage oscillitor was designed and constructed to be used in the Kirlian carnera. The schematic is as follows: IN3000B I-IV out 2 4 W 1NZ49 .7 1000 pf ZN 1 250 ZN 1808 250:1 coil 6 8. ZX 7. 5 IK 560 +20 VDC o. Vibrator All resistances in ohms Figure 1. 3- The output of the Kirlian apparatus is a critically dampened pulse with peak amplitudes of about -4 KV and + 3 KV. Pulse width is about 100us and pulse repetition frequency @ibout 100 pulses per second. .... .... ....... . ... ..... .... . .. .. ... 2 Figure 2. Twelve randomly selected plants from an initial planting of 50 were grouped as follows: Control Low Dose High Dose Early Radish . . . . . . . . . . 12 5 6 Late Radish . . . . . . . . . . 48 50 49 Harvester Beans . . .3 . . . . . 46 23 41 Pinto Beans . . . . . . . . . . 36 28 32 iNo insecticide was given the control group. Each plant in the low dose group received Z. 5 cc of 511,lo chemical in aqueous solution. Each plant in the high Plant identification number -4- (lose grotip received 25 cc of 5a/o insecticide in the same manner. The insec- ticicle solution was poured on every leaf and on as much of the stem as possible for the two treated groups. The age of the plants at the start of the test were as follows: Early Radish IZ3 days Late Radish 109 days 8 Harvester Beans 123 days Pinto Beans 119 days The control and treated plants were photographed on the first, second and fourth day following exposure. In addition, the control group was photographed the day the treatment group was exposed. C3, 'qp CD Fd 00 En kA- k t LOW DOSE GROUP 11 July 1972 5 R@tclisli Z3 Harvester Bean 210 Pii-ito B(!an 50 Raclish IIICH DOSE GROUP 11 July 1972 6 r., II 32 Pinto Bean 41 liarvest(,,r Bcan 49 Radisli CO-,.,@TROL GROUP I? JLlly 1972 4 36 Pinto Bean IZ Radish -AiZ 48 Ridish 4 46 Harvester Bean LOIV DOSE GROUP 12 July 1972 5 Radish 23 Harvester Bean 28 Pinto Bean 50 Radish HIGH DOSE GROUP iz july 197Z 3Z Pinto Bean @iLn 49 Radish CONTROL GROUP 14 July 1972 36 Pinto Bean i7 l@ 48 r-,adish LOW DOSE GROUP 14 July 1972 Plant Damaged 5 Radish 23 Harvester Bean Plant Damaged 28 Pinto Bean 50 Radish D(DSE GR\OUP 14 JUIY 1117Z Plalit Dainaged -t:7 32 pinto Bean 6 Radish V7, 49 Radish 3 41 Harvestcr Bean