Static electric fields do not cause coleoptile movements

A photodiode array method has been used to record automatically minute lateral movements of Avena sativa L. (cv. Seger I) coleoptiles in a static electric field. The electric fields, 600 or 5000 V cm⁻¹ did not cause any significant movement of the coleoptiles, in contrast to reports in the literature. Likewise, in experiments where photographic recordings were made, no significant movements were found.