title: Early Gravi-Electrical Responses in Bean Epicotyls.
abstract: The relationship between gravitropism and surface electrical potentials was studied using etiolated epicotyls of adzuki bean (Phaseolus angularis). Early downward curvature (or transient positive gravitropic response) was observed about 1 min after gravistimulation. The downward curvature was closely related to the speed of the subsequent upward curvature. Surface electrical potentials decreased cooperatively in a limited region on the upper side within only 0.5 to 2 min. This is the earliest event found so far to follow gravistimulation of intact epicotyls. The rapid change in the potential had a high correlation with the early downward curvature and also the subsequent negative gravitropism. It is suggested that the rapid potential change plays an important role in gravity perception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronics, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University 36, Fukuoka 812, Japan.
authors.forename: H.
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
authors.forename: K.
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toko
authors.forename: T.
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: K.
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamafuji