Oscillations of apoplasmic K+ and H+ activities in Desmodium motorium (Houtt.) Merril. pulvini in relation to the membrane potential of motor cells and leaflet movements |
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Authors: | Bernd Antkowiak Wolfgang Engelmann |
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Institution: | (1) Institut für Botanik, Physiologische Ökologie der Pflanzen, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany;(2) Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Kybernetik, Spemannstr. 38, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany |
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Abstract: | The lateral leaflets of Desmodium motorium exhibit rhythmic upward and downward movements with a period in the minute range. Apoplasmic K+ and H+ activities were monitored in situ in the abaxial part of the pulvini with ion-selective microelectrodes. An extracellular electric potential was recorded simultaneously. The apoplasmic H+ activity of all pulvini exhibiting a regular rhythm of the extracellular electric potential oscillated with the same period between about 10 and 20 mM. The apoplasmic K+ activity was high when the membrane potential of the motor cells was depolarized (about 36 mV) and the cells were shrunken. In contrast, the apoplasmic K+ activity was low in the swollen state of the motor cells, when the membrane potential was hyperpolarized (about -136 mV). The volatile anesthetic enflurane suppressed reversibly the movement of the leaflets. The same treatment also arrested spontaneous oscillations in the apoplasmic K+ activity in the pulvinus. The apoplasmic K+ activity oscillated roughly in phase with the K+ activity between pH 6.6 and 6.0. Application of white light disturbed the rhythm and increased the extracellular pH. Our results indicate that the physiological mechanism that drives the lateral leaflet movements of Desmodium motorium is closely related to the osmotic motors mediating the leaf movements of Mimosa, Samanea and Phaseolus.Abbreviations Em
membrane potential
- Eex
extracellular electric potential
- Hex
extracellular H+ activity
- Kex
extracellular K+ activity
- Rex
extracellular electrical resistance
B. Antkowiak was supported by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk. |
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Keywords: | Apoplasmic ion oscillation (K+ H+ ion selective microelectrodes) Desmodium Pulvinus Ultradian rhythm Volatile anesthetic |
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