title: Electrotonic potentials in Aloe vera L.: Effects of intercellular and external electrodes arrangement.
abstract: Electrostimulation of plants can induce plant movements, activation of ion channels, ion transport, gene expression, enzymatic systems activation, electrical signaling, plant-cell damage, enhanced wound healing, and influence plant growth. Here we found that electrical networks in plant tissues have electrical differentiators. The amplitude of electrical responses decreases along a leaf and increases by decreasing the distance between polarizing Pt-electrodes. Intercellular Ag/AgCl electrodes inserted in a leaf and extracellular Ag/AgCl electrodes attached to the leaf surface were used to detect the electrotonic potential propagation along a leaf of Aloe vera. There is a difference in duration and amplitude of electrical potentials measured by electrodes inserted in a leaf and those attached to a leaf's surface. If the external reference electrode is located in the soil near the root, it changes the amplitude and duration of electrotonic potentials due to existence of additional resistance, capacitance, ion channels and ion pumps in the root. The information gained from this study can be used to elucidate extracellular and intercellular communication in the form of electrical signals within plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA. Electronic address: agvolkov@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Volkov
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Eunice K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Nyasani
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuckett
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Jessenia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Mariah M Z
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Esther A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Greeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Ariane S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Greenidge
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Devin O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Oakwood University, 7000 Adventist Blvd., Huntsville, AL 35896, USA.
authors.forename: Maia I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Volkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA.
authors.forename: Yuri B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Shtessel
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004566:Electrodes; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Aloe vera; Electrical differentiators; Electrostimulation; Electrotonic potential; Intercellular potentials; Surface electrodes