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Influence of electrolytes on growth, phototropism, nutation and surface potential in etiolated cucumber seedlings
Author(s) -
SPALDING E. P.,
COSGROVE D. J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3040.1993.tb00891.x
Subject(s) - phototropism , etiolation , electrolyte , cucumis , nutation , biophysics , mannitol , chemistry , botany , biology , biochemistry , materials science , physics , blue light , optoelectronics , electrode , astronomy , enzyme
A variety of electrolytes (10–30 mol m −3 ) increased the relative growth rate of etiolated cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. Burpee's Pickler) hypocotyls by 20–50% relative to water‐only controls. The nonelectrolyte mannitol inhibited growth by 10%. All salts tested were effective, regardless of chemical composition or valence. Measurements of cell‐sap osmolality ruled out an osmotic mechanism for the growth stimulation by electrolytes. This, and the nonspecificity of the response, indicate that an electrical property of the solutions was responsible for their growth‐stimulating activity. Measurements of surface electrical potential supported this reasoning. Treatment with electrolytes also enhanced nutation and altered the pattern of phototropic curvature development. A novel analytical method for quantitating these effects on growth was developed. The evidence indicates that electrolytes influence an electrophysiological parameter that is involved in the control of cell expansion and the coordination of growth underlying tropisms and nutations.