Resting electrical network activity in traps of the aquatic carnivorous plants of the genera Aldrovanda and Utricularia

Year: 2016

Authors: Masi E., Ciszak M., Colzi I., Adamec L., Mancuso S.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Florence, LINV, Dept Agrifood Prod & Environm Sci DISPAA, Viale Idee 30, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; CNR, Natl Inst Opt INO, Lgo E Fermi 6, I-50125 Florence, Italy; Acad Sci Czech Republ, Inst Bot, Sect Plant Ecol, Dukelska 135, CZ-37982 Trebon, Czech Republic.

Abstract: In this study the MEA (multielectrode array) system was used to record electrical responses of intact and halved traps, and other trap-free tissues of two aquatic carnivorous plants, Aldrovanda vesiculosa and Utricularia reflexa. They exhibit rapid trap movements and their traps contain numerous glands. Spontaneous generation of spikes with quite uniform shape, propagating across the recording area, has been observed for all types of sample. In the analysis of the electrical network, higher richer synchronous activity was observed relative to other plant species and organs previously described in the literature: indeed, the time intervals between the synchronized clusters (the inter-spike intervals) create organized patterns and the propagation times vary non-linearly with the distance due to this synchronization. Interestingly, more complex electrical activity was found in traps than in trap-free organs, supporting the hypothesis that the nature of the electrical activity may reflect the anatomical and functional complexity of different organs. Finally, the electrical activity of functionally different traps of Aldrovanda (snapping traps) and Utricularia (suction traps) was compared and some differences in the features of signal propagation were found. According to these results, a possible use of the MEA system for the study of different trap closure mechanisms is proposed.

Journal/Review: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Volume: 6      Pages from: 24989-1  to: 24989-11

More Information: This study was supported (to LA) by the Long-term research development project No. RVO 67985939. Sincere thanks are due to Dr. Brian G. McMillan, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, for language correction.
KeyWords: carnivorous plant; electric activity; organ; species; spike; suction; action potential; Droseraceae; Lamiales; physiology, Action Potentials; Droseraceae; Lamiales
DOI: 10.1038/srep24989

Citations: 7
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