Electrogenesis in the Root Environment of Various Lettuce Varieties

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems based on electroactive processes in the root environment of plants are a promising direction for the combined production of green electricity and plant products. The dynamics of the electric potential differences formation in the root environment, diffuse reflection indices, fluorescence parameters of leaves, and morphometric and biochemical characteristics of lettuce varieties Chinese curly, Chinese red-green, Ballet, Cocarde, Mercury, Dubrava, Robin, and Solos F₁ hybrid are studied. The maximum electric potential difference of 430 mV was typical for the Mercury variety, and the minimum of 352 mV for the Chinese Curly variety. According to the sum of the parameters, in addition to the electrical ones, including the morphometric, biochemical, and photosynthetic characteristics, the lettuce Ballet variety was the best. In the future, based on the data obtained, it will be possible to create agrophytocenoses, including plants capable of high and stable electricity generation together with high productivity and good quality of the plant products obtained, due to the effective assimilation and conversion of light energy.