Measurement of Electric Potential in Biological Objects

conference paper

English

The measurement of electric potential in plants falls within the class of interdisciplinary subjects often referred to as electrophysiology of plants. At present, the measurement of electrical processes in humans and animals constitutes a comparatively well established activity with multiple practical applications; in this context, electrical signals in plants have been measured for approximately two hundred years. These signals embody the result of plants incessant need to obtain information related to their environment. Changes within the environment induce various types of biological reaction; furthermore, plants synchronize their normal biological functions according to the response of the environment. Thus, they react to any variation in conditions such as the intensity of lighting, water availability, osmotic pressure, temperature, and respond to aspects including mechanical stimulation, injury, chemical compounds like herbicides and salts, or even the action of other organisms. Plants regulate not only stressful situations, but also the process of photosynthesis. In order to facilitate quick response to the stimuli mentioned, they have developed a mechanism similar to the neural system of animals. This mechanism is located inside phloem, and even though its structure does not possess the complexity of the system found in animals, it enables long-distance signal transmission via a channel of relatively low impedance [2]. The aim of this work is to report on the authors attempt at measuring these electrical signals in plants.

plants, electric potencial, biologikal objekts

SZABÓ, Z.; KROUTILOVÁ, E.; JANÍČEK, M.

2012

19. 8. 2012

Moscow

978-1-934142-22-6

PIERS Moscow proceedings

279

282

4