The effects of superconducting static magnetic fields （SMFs） on the pollen mother cells （PMCs） of wheat were investigated in order to evaluate the possible genotoxic effect of such non-ionizing radiation. The seeds of wheat were exposed to static magnetic fields with either different magnetic flux densities （0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 Tesla） for 5 h or different durations （1, 3 and 5 h） at a magnetic flux density of 7 Tesla. The seeds were germinated at 23℃ after exposure and the seedlings were transplanted into the field. The PMCs from young wheat ears were taken and slides were made following the conventional method. The genotoxic effect was evaluated in terms of micronucleus （MN）, chromosomal bridge, lagging chromosome and fragments in PMCs. Although the exposed groups of a low field intensity （below 5 Tesla） showed no statistically significant difference in the aberration frequency compared with the unexposed control groups and sham exposed groups, a significant increase in the chromosomal bridge, lagging chromosome, triple-polar segregation or micronucleus was observed at a field strength of 5 Tesla or 7 Tesla, respectively. The analysis of dose-effect relationships indicated that the increased frequency of meiotic abnormal cells correlated with the flux density of the magnetic field and duration, but no linear relationship was observed. Such statistically significant differences indicated a potential genotoxic effect of high static magnetic fields above 5 T.
