[PAGE 1]
INVESTIGATION OF THE KIRLIAN PHENOMENON IN INSECTICIDE TREATED PLANTS

Prepared by:

.

31 August 1972

Approved for Release 27 FFR 1979 Date

[PAGE 2]
INVESTIGATION OF THE KIRLIAN PHENOMENON IN INSECTICIDE TREATED PLANTS

INTRODUCTION

The Thas conducted an investigation of the Kirlian photographic technique in an attempt to detect the presence of a commercial scil insecticide fbrand Dyfonate) in various species of plants. Dyfonate is a 5% granular 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 untreated control group, low dosage and high dosage groups at intervals of one, two and four days after exposure.

[PAGE 3]
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The photographs 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 agent is truly non-systemic, large·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.

[PAGE 4]
A high voltage oscillator was designed and constructed to be used in the Kirlian camera. The schematic is as follows;

Test Procedure and Results

[PAGE 5]
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 about l00 pulses per second.

Twelve randomly selected plants from an initial planting of 50 were grouped as follows:

No insecticide was given the control group. Each plant in the low dose group received 2.5 cc of 5% chemical in aqueous solution, Each plant in the high

\* Plant identification number

[PAGE 6]
dosc group rcceived 25 cc of 5% insccticide in the same manner. The insecticidc solution was poured on every leaf and on as much of the stcm as possible for the two treated groups. The age of the plants at the start of the test were as follows:

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.

-5.

[PAGE 8]
LOW DOSE GROUP

[PAGE 9]
11 July 1972

HIGH DOSE GROUP

[PAGE 12]
HIGH DOSE GROUP

[PAGE 13]
CONTROL GROUP

[PAGE 14]
Plant Damaged

5 Radish

28 Pinto Bean

23 Harvester Bean

Plant Damaged

LOW DOSE GROUP

14 July 1972

[PAGE 15]
!IC! DOSE GROUP