Effect of external electrical field on mobile water fraction and physiological processes in wheat (Triticum aestivum) leaves.

ABSTRACT

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of external electric field on physiological processes, moisture content and mobile water fraction in wheat leaves. Application of electric field increased the stomatal resistance immediately and it continued to increase upto 10 min. Photosynthesis and respiration of leaves decreased with the application of external electric field. Leaf moisture content and mobile fraction of water measured as relaxation times were marginally increased with electric field. Closure of stomata, in spite of maintaining higher leaf moisture content of the leaf with external electric field, suggested that electric field might have regulated stomatal movement through hormones or ion flux across the cells.