New sight: rapid monitor of intracellular water information in plant leaves based on electrophysiological parameters

Abstract Background: Intracellular water in plant leaves is paramount importance to physiological and biochemical processes. Water changes trigger the rapid response of plant electrophysiological information. In this study, plant electrophysiological information was firstly used to rapid monitor intracellular water information in plant leaves. Results: Based on the thermodynamics laws, the fitting equations between plant electrophysiological parameters and clamping force were innovative established. Subsequently, leaf intrinsic electrophysiological parameters, intracellular water-holding capacity (IWHC), water use efficiency (IWUE), water-holding time (IWHT) and water transfer rate (WTR), were firstly developed and applied. The results show that the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera in the cultivated soil had higher IWHC, WTR and water content than in the moderate rocky desertification soil. The leaf IWHC, WTR and water content of the herbaceous plants were higher than that of the woody plants. Solanum tuberosum had higher leaf IWHC, WTR and lower IWUE, IWHT, as compared to Capsicum annuum. Conclusions: These indexes strongly reveal the life phenomenon of the intracellular water metabolism in plant leaves. This study highlights that the online electrophysiological parameters promise a new sight for intracellular water metabolism in plants.