TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrotonic and action potentials in the Venus flytrap
AU - Volkov, Alexander G.
AU - Vilfranc, Chrystelle L.
AU - Murphy, Veronica A.
AU - Mitchell, Colee M.
AU - Volkova, Maia I.
AU - O'Neal, Lawrence
AU - Markin, Vladislav S.
N1 - Funding Information:
This article is based upon work supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CBET-1064160 and in part by the U. S. Army Research Office under contract Grant No. W911NF-11-1-0132 .
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - The electrical phenomena and morphing structures in the Venus flytrap have attracted researchers since the nineteenth century. We have observed that mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs on the lobes of the Venus flytrap induces electrotonic potentials in the lower leaf. Electrostimulation of electrical circuits in the Venus flytrap can induce electrotonic potentials propagating along the upper and lower leaves. The instantaneous increase or decrease in voltage of stimulating potential generates a nonlinear electrical response in plant tissues. Any electrostimulation that is not instantaneous, such as sinusoidal or triangular functions, results in linear responses in the form of small electrotonic potentials. The amplitude and sign of electrotonic potentials depend on the polarity and the amplitude of the applied voltage. Electrical stimulation of the lower leaf induces electrical signals, which resemble action potentials, in the trap between the lobes and the midrib. The trap closes if the stimulating voltage is above the threshold level of 4.4. V. Electrical responses in the Venus flytrap were analyzed and reproduced in the discrete electrical circuit. The information gained from this study can be used to elucidate the coupling of intracellular and intercellular communications in the form of electrical signals within plants.
AB - The electrical phenomena and morphing structures in the Venus flytrap have attracted researchers since the nineteenth century. We have observed that mechanical stimulation of trigger hairs on the lobes of the Venus flytrap induces electrotonic potentials in the lower leaf. Electrostimulation of electrical circuits in the Venus flytrap can induce electrotonic potentials propagating along the upper and lower leaves. The instantaneous increase or decrease in voltage of stimulating potential generates a nonlinear electrical response in plant tissues. Any electrostimulation that is not instantaneous, such as sinusoidal or triangular functions, results in linear responses in the form of small electrotonic potentials. The amplitude and sign of electrotonic potentials depend on the polarity and the amplitude of the applied voltage. Electrical stimulation of the lower leaf induces electrical signals, which resemble action potentials, in the trap between the lobes and the midrib. The trap closes if the stimulating voltage is above the threshold level of 4.4. V. Electrical responses in the Venus flytrap were analyzed and reproduced in the discrete electrical circuit. The information gained from this study can be used to elucidate the coupling of intracellular and intercellular communications in the form of electrical signals within plants.
KW - Action potential
KW - Electrical signaling
KW - Electrostimulation
KW - Electrotonic potential
KW - Plant electrophysiology
KW - Venus flytrap
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jplph.2013.01.009
DO - 10.1016/j.jplph.2013.01.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 23422156
AN - SCOPUS:84877605589
SN - 0176-1617
VL - 170
SP - 838
EP - 846
JO - Journal of Plant Physiology
JF - Journal of Plant Physiology
IS - 9
ER -