Study of Electrophysiology of Thermal Shock in Higher Plants using High Speed Data Acquisition

Abstract

Vascular plants such as the soybean plant, the Aloe vera plant, and the Mimosa pudica plant have developed mechanisms in order to respond quickly to external stimuli. Throughout the history of plant electrophysiology research, several scientists have attempted to measure the speeds of electrical signal propagation in higher plants in response to thermal stress and other stressors. Several earlier researchers produced signals which were erroneously reported as 0.1 mm/s to 20 cm/s, much slower than actual propagation speeds. These incorrect signaling data resulted from aliasing effects of antiquated data acquisition systems. In this research study, new high-speed data acquisition systems were used to obtain accurate speeds for electrical signals in higher plants. Our results show solitary waves in response to localized thermal stress, with speeds of propagation measured from a few meters per second to approximately 105 m/s [1,2]. In this study, possible mechanisms for electrical signal propagation in response to heat shock are also introduced.[1] Lang, R.D., A.G. Volkov (2008). Solitary waves in soybean induced by localized thermal stress. Plant Signal Behav 3, 224-228.[2] Volkov, A.G., R.D. Lang, M.I. Volkova-Gugeshashvili. (2007). Electrical signaling in Aloe vera induced by localized thermal stress. Bioelectrochem 71, 192-197.