Summary
Pollen tubes of Camellia japonica grew toward the cathode upon exposure to an electric field. Reversal of the field direction during the course of tube growth also reversed the direction of tube growth. These observations demonstrate the existence of the electrotropism of pollen tubes. This electro tropic response was confirmed in several kinds of pollen. The direction that the growing tube turned was found to differ with different pollen species, but it did not vary in those of the genus Camellia. The curvature in response to the electrotropic stimulus was influenced by calcium ion concentration as well as by the strength of the applied fields. The optimum condition for each was studied. The degree of tube extension decreased generally in inverse proportion to current density.
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Nakamura, N., Fukushima, A., Iwayama, H. et al. Electrotropism of pollen tubes of camellia and other plants. Sexual Plant Reprod 4, 138–143 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196501
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196501