Hi folks,
As I said, a question and an answer
first the question: Does anyone know the source and approximate cost of a
pressure bomb for water potential measurements?
Now the "answer". Our resident neurobiologist and I spent some time puttering
with Venus' Flytraps, and were eventually able to record beatuiful action
potentials. The potentials lasted about 0.5 sec, and were around 50 mV in
magnitude. We used two platinum electrodes, one attached to the outer portion
of a trap-hinge with wet Elmer's Glue (as suggested in Reiss), and the other,
reference electrode stabbed into the leaf blade just below the trap. Sticking
the electrode in soil, as suggested by Reiss, resulted in very low conductance
and, as result, very high "noise". I suspect that one could get equally good
results with mimosa, again inserting the reference electrode in the stem of the
plant rather than in the soil.
Good luck. Ken
Date Sent: 9-MAY-1996 12:14:24
**************************************************************************
Kenneth W. Helm Internet: helm at siena.edu
Assistant Professor, Biology Phone: 518-783-2947
FAX: 518-783-2986
Snail mail:
Department of Biology
Siena College
Loudonville, NY
12211
