Relationship between Growth and Electric Oscillations in Bean Roots.
Extracellular and intracellular electric potentials in bean roots are known to show electric oscillations along the longitudinal axis with a period of several minutes. The relationship between growth and the electric oscillations was studied using roots of adzuki (Phaseolus chrysanthos). We measured surface electric potentials with a multielectrode apparatus while simultaneously measuring elongation using a CCD camera and monitor. Roots having an electric oscillation grew faster than roots with no oscillation. Furthermore, elongation rate was higher in roots with higher oscillation frequency. Oscillation frequency had a strong dependence on temperature; i.e. Q(10) was estimated at 1.7. These results suggest a correlation between electric oscillation and elongation.
Souda
M
M
Department of Electronics, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University 36, Fukuoka 812, Japan.
Toko
K
K
Hayashi
K
K
Fujiyoshi
T
T
Ezaki
S
S
Yamafuji
K
K