ETIMAD M. ALATTAR*, KHITAM Y. ELWASIFE*^#, EQBAL S. RADWAN*, ANSAM M. ALAGHA**
*Department of Biology, College of Science, Islamic University, Gaza, Palestinian Territory
**Department of Physics, College of Science, Islamic University, Gaza, Palestinian Territory

This paper presents the investigation of the influence of microwave treated water on the growth of the plants. For this experiment, four groups of seedlings were used and subjected to the study. We took drinking water and divided it into four parts, each group was given only one part. The first group was given water that had been heated to boiling in a glass cup on a gas stove. The second and third group was given water that had been heated in a microwave to boiling (100 °C) and 60 °C respectively. The fourth group of seedlings was given water that had not been heated at all and used as control. The growth of seedlings was studied for 30 days. The analysis of the results shows that corn seedlings that exposed to microwaved water show lower growth rate in comparison to the control ones. Corn seedlings when watered with normal water or with water heated on the stove grew faster and have shoot length significantly bigger than the corns which were watered with water heated in a microwave at 60 °C/     100 °C. On the other hand, pepper seedlings watered with either microwaved water or not microwaved water were found with no significant effects on their growth characteristics.
Key words: Microwave, Zea mays, Capsicum annuum, microwaved water.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: kelwasife@iugaza.edu.ps

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