Electro-osmosis

Applications

Vascular plant biology

In vascular plant biology, electro-osmosis is also used as an alternative or supplemental explanation for the movement of polar liquids via the phloem that differs from the cohesion-tension theory supplied in the Mass flow hypothesis and others, such as cytoplasmic streaming. ^[1] Principally, companion cells are involved in the "cyclic" withdrawal of ions (K ⁺ ) from sieve tubes, and their secretion parallel to their position of withdrawal between sieve plates, resulting in polarisation of sieve plate elements alongside potential difference in pressure, and results in polar water molecules and other solutes present being moved upwards through the phloem. ^[2][3]

In 2003, St Petersburg University graduates based an experiment on the electro-osmosis hypothesis through the application of direct electric current to 10mm segments of mesocotyls of maize seedlings alongside one-year linden shoots used with normal conducting systems and without vascular bundles; electrolyte solutions present in the tissues moved towards the cathode that was in place, suggesting that electro-osmosis may play a role in solution transport through conductive plant tissues. ^[4]

Physics

In cathode).

See also

• Capillary electrophoresis
• Electroosmotic flow
• Streaming current
• Zeta potential

Notes

1. ^ Clegg, C.J., Mackean, D. G. (2006), p340-343
2. ^ Clegg, C.J., Mackean, D. G. (2006), p340-343
3. ^ V. V. Polevoi , T. E. Bilova1 and Yu. I. Shevtsov (2003)
4. ^ V. V. Polevoi, T. E. Bilova1 and Yu. I. Shevtsov (2003)

References

1. V. V. Polevoi , T. E. Bilova1 and Yu. I. Shevtsov (2003) "Electroosmotic Phenomena in Plant Tissues " Biology Bulletin; Volume 30, Number 2
2. Clegg, C.J., Mackean, D. G. (2006) "Advanced Biology - principles & applications" Hodder Stoughton Publhishers