Stem bending generates electrical response in poplar.
Erwan Tinturier1, Éric Badel1, Nathalie Leblanc-Fournier1
1Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, UMR 547-PIAF, Aubière, France.
Physiologia Plantarum
|July 8, 2021
Summary
Plants generate a novel electrical signal, the "gradual" potential, in response to mechanical stress like wind. This signal travels along the stem, influencing distant growth.
Area of Science:
- Plant physiology
- Biophysics
- Mechanobiology
Background:
- Plants respond to mechanical stimuli (wind, touch) with growth changes.
- These responses can occur distant from the stimulus, implying signal propagation.
- The nature of these long-distance signals in plants remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the electrical signals generated by mechanical stress in poplar trees.
- To characterize the properties of these stress-induced electrical signals.
- To explore potential mechanisms of signal propagation in response to wind-like stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Applied controlled bending stimulation to poplar tree stems.
- Measured the resulting electrical potential changes along the stem.
- Analyzed signal propagation velocity and amplitude decay.
Main Results:
- Stem bending induced a distinct electrical response termed "gradual" potential.
- This signal propagated up to 20 cm along the stem.
- The "gradual" potential exhibited significant damping in velocity and amplitude.
Conclusions:
- Plants generate a unique electrical signal in response to mechanical stress.
- This signal propagates locally along the stem, distinct from typical action potentials.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the propagation mechanisms of the "gradual" potential.
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