Endogenous oscillations of electric potential difference in the cambial region of the pine stem. I. General characteristics of the oscillations

Abstract

Extracellular measurements of electric potential difference (PD) in isolated tissue blocks from Scots pine were performed. Endogenous transient PD changes (oscillations) generated exclusively in the cambial region were found. They were not recorded in tissue blocks exposed to drastic thermal treatment. The oscillations were significantly damped by respiration inhibitors and stimulated by fusicoccin. The results point to the cambial region as the main source of electric activity in a woody stem.

Keywords

• cambium
• electric potential difference (PD)
• electric oscillations
• fusicoccin
• Scots pine