INDUCED ELECTRO-OSMOSIS IN ROOT TISSUES

Abstract

An attempt was made to induce transport of water in sections of roots of Lens by applying electrical potentials. The results support the conclusion that the observed water flows were moved electro-osmotically. With currents between 3 and 50 microamperes, the efficiency of water movement was found to be of the order of 20 to 80 water moles per faraday in living roots and four to six times more in killed roots. The highest efficiency coinciding with the best conductivity was observed in the zone of elongation. An asymmetry of flow upon reversal of the direction of the current was found which appeared to be linked to an asymmetry of both apparatus and plant material.