ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA IN LARGE PLANT CELLS

Abstract

The electromotive forces which may be measured in large plant cells vary with temp., mechanical disturbances, electrical stimulation, and the solutions applied to the vacuolar and outer surfaces of the protoplasm. It is convenient to assume that the P. D. is due to a chain of diffusion potentials and to explain the changes in P. D. by supposing that local alterations in permeability or in ionic concn. cause changes in rates of ionic movement. Something of the nature of the protoplasmic surface is revealed by measurements of capacitance and resistance. The plant cells make interesting models of nerve and muscle cells for the study of injury currents, irritability, and action currents.