Electrocultivation of Arabidopsis thaliana increases water and mineral absorption, electric charge and auxin accumulation, enhancing growth and development

Abstract

Numerous studies in various species have demonstrated that the application of an electric field can improve plant growth. However, plants showed inconsistent responses and the background mechanism for responses to electric fields remain unclear. Here, to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms involved in electric field–induced changes in physiology, we investigated the effects of electric fields on the growth and development of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). To this end, we cultivated Arabidopsis plants under 5 kV/m electric fields oriented vertically or horizontally. Regardless of the electric field direction, the exposed plants had significantly more leaves and greater biomass compared to the control group, which was not exposed to an additional electric field. Exposure to the electric fields also accelerated flowering. Auxin concentration in Arabidopsis leaves exhibited significant increase following exposure to electric field, supporting the enhanced shoot growth. Moreover, well-developed xylem and phloem under vertical electric fields facilitated increased absorption of water and nutrients. Gene ontology annotation and KEGG pathway analysis identified numerous electric field–responsive genes. Overall, this study elucidates mechanisms of the plant response to electric fields and represents a step towards developing technologies that enhance crop productivity.