Application of impedance spectroscopy and conductometry for assessment of varietal differences in wheat

The potentials of an electrochemical and a physical technique for detection of physiological differences in three wheat cultivars under optimal growth conditions were outlined in the study. Electrolyte leakage kinetics was established by continuous measurements of conductivity of solutions in which leaf pieces were incubated for 24 hours. Impedance spectra were obtained from intact leaves at frequency range from 7 to 2010 Hz and 250 mV measuring voltage applied between two gold plated silicon substrates serving as electrodes. The obtained spectra were approximated by a model employing two ARC elements connected in series. Parameters of the previously described diffusion model based on time course conductivity measurements were inversely correlated with electrical impedance spectroscopy data, thus the genotype with highest ion leakage (cultivar Prelom) exhibited lowest impedance magnitude. It was concluded that the two methods were able not merely to distinguish the three studied cultivars but also to rank them in the same order based on their electrical properties