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Revisiting the Physiology of Ascent of Sap In Plants:Legendary Experiment of J. C. Bose


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1 Department of Geology, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
2 Department of Physics, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
3 Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
 

Jagadish Chandra Bose observed rhythmic electrical oscillations or pulsations in living cells of the innermost layer of cortex, and linked them to upward pumping of water into the xylem1. Bose measured bioelectric potentials in Indian telegraph plant Desmodium (Bon Charal or forest churl) using the cresograph, a self-invented instrument, that consisted of an electric probe, a galvanometer, an electric dry cell and a thin copper wire. He connected the galvanometer to one point of a potted plant and the probe to another point of the plant, and slowly inserted the probe into the stem. The galvanometer showed momentary deflection for a longer period after the probe reached the innermost layer of the cortex. Bose observed a physiological motif and interlinked the measured pulsations in cellular electric potentials with oscillations in cell turgor pressure2.
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  • Revisiting the Physiology of Ascent of Sap In Plants:Legendary Experiment of J. C. Bose

Abstract Views: 294  |  PDF Views: 109

Authors

Supriyo Kumar Das
Department of Geology, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
Debasish Dutta
Department of Physics, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
Saranya Naskar
Department of Physics, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
Snigdha Palchaudhury
Department of Geology, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
Rabindranath Gayen
Department of Physics, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India
Abhijit Dey
Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, College Street 86/1, Kolkata 700 073, India

Abstract


Jagadish Chandra Bose observed rhythmic electrical oscillations or pulsations in living cells of the innermost layer of cortex, and linked them to upward pumping of water into the xylem1. Bose measured bioelectric potentials in Indian telegraph plant Desmodium (Bon Charal or forest churl) using the cresograph, a self-invented instrument, that consisted of an electric probe, a galvanometer, an electric dry cell and a thin copper wire. He connected the galvanometer to one point of a potted plant and the probe to another point of the plant, and slowly inserted the probe into the stem. The galvanometer showed momentary deflection for a longer period after the probe reached the innermost layer of the cortex. Bose observed a physiological motif and interlinked the measured pulsations in cellular electric potentials with oscillations in cell turgor pressure2.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv115%2Fi8%2F1451-1453