The electrical response of fruit trees to soil water availability and diurnal light-dark cycles
2008
Gil, Pilar M. | Gurovich, Luis | Schaffer, Bruce
Recent studies have associated the effect of water stress, irrigation, and light cycles with electrical signaling in fruit tree species including avocado, blueberry, lemon and olive. In those studies, changes in the electrical potential (EP) difference were detected between the base of the stem and leaf in response to drought, irrigation, and diurnal changes in light and dark. In avocado, the changes in EP between the base of the stem and leaf petiole (ΔVL₋S) observed in response to decreased soil water content have been associated with a decrease in stomatal conductance, indicating that stomatal closure might be associated with an electrical signal. New experiments were conducted to determine the effects of short- and long-term drought on root to leaf electrical signaling in avocado confirming that in both situations significant changes in EP differences can be detected and that an extra-cellular electrical signal appears to be involved in root to leaf communication initiating stomatal closure. Day-to-night fluctuations in EP observed in fruit trees appeared to correspond to the time of day and were therefore presumably affected by diurnal changes in ambient light and vapor pressure deficit. Addendum to: Gil PM, Gurovich L, Schaffer B, Alcayaga J, Rey S, Iturriaga R. Root to leaf electrical signaling in avocado in response to light and soil water content. J Plant Physiol 2008; 165:1070-8.
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