Electric Oscillations Generated by Plant Roots and a Possible Feedback Mechanism Responsible for Them

Abstract

An account is given of rhythmic variations which have been observed in the electric field generated by bean roots growing in water. These electric oscillations which have periods of about 5 min have been studied using apparatus which records automatically at frequent intervals the potential pattern near the root. A description is given of this apparatus and of a very sensitive instrument for recording the rate of elongation of the root.