Slow Wave Potentials –a Propagating Electrical Signal Unique to Higher Plants - Communication in Plants: Neuronal Aspects of Plant Life - page 294

1959). Electrical recordings in Mimosa showed an electrical excitation sig-
nal in the form of a sequential combination of a short AP spike and a longer
wavelike SWP (Fig. 20.1, trace g). Such a sequence was understood to imply
that the AP moved faster through the Mimosa leaf and therefore appeared
earlier at the recording site at the petiole base than the slow wave. The same
sequence of signals was found in Vicia faba (Roblin 1985), but in sunflow-
ers and cucumbers SWPs can be faster or slower than APs (Stankovic et al.
1997; Stahlberg and Cosgrove 1997c).
Today the “slow” in SWP refers to the slow repolarization and the result-
ing wavelike appearance rather than to inferior propagation rates (Fig. 20.1,
traces e-g). To date a low rate is the most frequently applied criterion to
differentiate SWPs from APs (Stankovic et al. 1997; Dziubinska et al. 2001).
However, even if measured in the same location (sunflower stem) SWPs
can cover an astounding range in repolarization times and their resulting
shapes closely approach that of either APs or WPs (Fig. 20.1, traces c-g).
Repolarization times are extended after flame induction and root excision
(Fig. 20.1, traces e and f), but short when initiated by a needle puncture
(Fig. 20.1, traces c and d). SWP signals can be contaminated with action
spikes (Fig. 20.1, traces f and g). Such mixed signals have been found
among many species, e.g., tomatoes, cucumbers and sunflowers (Roblin
1985; Stahlberg and Cosgrove 1997c; Stankovic et al. 1998b). Moreover,
uncontaminated SWPs occur in pea epicotyls (Stahlberg and Cosgrove
1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997c) and perhaps Tradescant ia shoots (Tsaplev
and Zatsepina 1980). In addition to the slower repolarization, uncontam-
inated SWPs show slower depolarizations than APs and a round rather
than pointed signal shape (see Fig. 20.1, traces e and g, plus SWPs from
pea epicotyls in Stahlberg and Cosgrove 1992, 1996, 1997a). Unlike APs,
SWP induction does not follow an all-or-nothing rule and SWP amplitudes
therefore decrement during propagation (see later).
Finally, there are WPs as a direct depolarization response in the vicinity
of injured cells (Fig. 20.1, trace h). WPs have very long repolarization times
and show a range from less than 1-mm to 40-mm distance (Shimmen
2001; Stahlberg and Cosgrove 1994). The overlap in appearance of the
depolarization-repolarization events makes it difficult to distinguish the
three signals (Fig. 20.1); therefore, other distinguishing characteristics are
needed, e.g., stimuli causing SWPs to appear, ionic mechanisms mediating
depolarization and repolarization, in rates, mechanisms and pathways of
SWP propagation. What then is a SWP and what are its characteristics?