Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 9: Mechanisms of Plant
Electrophysiology
The
response
of
biological
cells
and
tissues
to
electric
fields
to
is
known
as
electrotropism.
Plantsaresensitivetomanydifferentformsofstimuli.Mostpeopleknowthatplantsrespond
to well-known environmental conditions such as temperature, light quality and direction,
as well as moisture. Plants can also respond to lesser-known forms of stimuli as well, like
electricity.
As mentioned previously, a number of experimenters over the last few centuries
demonstrated how electric fields affect plant growth in both field and lab-based
environments. Perhaps they first started experimenting with electricity in an agricultural
context when they noticed how well plants grow after a lightning storm. Not only does the
air smell fresh and clean, but plants and trees seem to have a quality about them that makes
them pop, like they're bursting with new energy. Or perhaps there was an observation made
in some part of the earth where there tended to be a greater amount of naturally-occurring
electricity flowing through the ground, also creating a rich growing experience for plants.
Nonetheless, these researchers successfully replicated the natural electrical phenomena
using artificial forms of electricity.
In the observation of both naturally-occurring and generated forms of electricity and their
actionsonplants,itwasseentoaffectmanyphysiologicalaspectsofplantbiology.Affected
parts include:
• Root growth
• Shoot growth
• Flowers: timing, color and aroma
• Fruits: size, maturity, aroma and sweetness
• Stress resistance: water, heat, cold, disease and infestation
At a high level, some of the most significant effects upon plant biology include:
