Spontaneous formation of the spatial pattern of electric potential in biological systems

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Abstract
Spatial patterns of electric potential and pH near the surface of root of bean (Phaseolus chrysanthos) were measured. The electric pattern was periodic along the root, and showed a good correlation with the pH pattern. The patterns disappeared with an anoxia treatment; it suggests that they are spontaneously formed through activation of respiration-dependent H+ pumps within the plasmalemma. The electric pattern was formed additively in the tip region with the elongation of root, while it was scarcely changed in the mature region. The electric potential within the root showed the existence of longitudinally-coherent electric current loops connecting the parenchyma to the extracelullar medium through the plasmalemma. Existence of electric current loops was also confirmed in the stem by electric isolation between the elongating region and the mature region.