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Comparative Study
. 2021 Nov 2;16(11):1950899.
doi: 10.1080/15592324.2021.1950899. Epub 2021 Jul 6.

A comparative study on the circadian rhythm of the electrical signals of Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba

Jinjin Xie  1 , Yanyou Wu  2 , Deke Xing  1 , Zhongying Li  1 , Tian Chen  1 , Rongrong Duan  1 , Xiaoxing Zhu  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

A comparative study on the circadian rhythm of the electrical signals of Broussonetia papyrifera and Morus alba

Jinjin Xie et al. Plant Signal Behav. .

Abstract

The circadian clock regulates a wide range of physiological processes in plants. Here we showed the circadian variations of the electrical signals in Broussonetia papyrifera L. and Morus alba L. in a natural state, which were analyzed using the day-night cycle method. The circadian characteristics of different plant electrical signals were compared by constructing a coupling model for the circadian rhythm of plant electrical signals. The electrical signal sensor had two electrode plates, which were fixed on the two ends of the splint, leaves could then be clamped and measured. The clamping force between the two electrode plates was uniform, which enabled continuous and nondestructive measurements. The results showed that an electric cyclic behavior was observed (circadian cycle) with the circadian variation in the plants within 24 h. Both the resistance (R) and the impedance (Z) increased firstly in the early morning and then decreased subsequently, while the capacitance (C) showed an opposite variation. Under different weather conditions, plant electrical signals showed periodic changes when the temperature and light intensity in the environment slightly changed within the physiological tolerance of plant. This indicated that the circadian clock of plant electrical signals could be maintained endogenously. The variation curves of plant electrical signals as time increased were fitted using the sine equation. The characteristic parameters of circadian rhythm of plant electrical signals were obtained. We found that although all plant electrical signals exhibited electric cyclic behavior, but the characteristics of circadian rhythms of electrical signals were different. This study provided a scientific basic for precisely monitoring plant electrical signals, and a reference for revealing circadian rhythms of plant electrical signals and their occurrence rules.

Keywords: Broussonetia papyrifera; Morus alba; circadian rhythm; electrical signal.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic of the experimental setup (1) Parallel plate capacitor; (2) foam board; (3) electrode; (4) wire
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Diurnal variation in R, C, and Z values of B. papyrifera and M. alba under different weather conditions
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Diurnal variation in T (a) and PAR (b) under two weather conditions
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Diurnal variation of meteorological factors
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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