Acharya J. C. Bose had demonstrated through his biophysical experiments that like excitable animal tissues, the excitable plant Mimosa pudica exhibits characteristic response to polar electrical stimulation. He had established that under bipolar method of excitation, i.e. when the electrodes are connected to the pulvini (motor organ) of the plant, the cathodic petiole showed drooping response (mechanical response) but there was no such response at the anodic side. In recent times, similar electrophysiological experiments have also reported the ability of Mimosa to detect the polarity of the DC electrical stimulus. However, there exists a research gap in quantification of mechanical response of the plant under in vivo condition, following exposure to DC electrical stimulation. In light of this, in the study the mechanical response of the petiole of the sensitive plant Mimosa pudica was quantitatively studied using image processing in order to find out the characteristic difference in the response pattern of the plant with respect to polarity of the stimulating electrode, following exposure to DC electrical stimulus. In addition, an electrical model has also been developed based on the mechanical response pattern of the plant. The developed electrical model may be used for conceptual demonstration of the mechanical response of the plant, for educational purpose.

From the study, it was observed that only cathodic stimulation elicited a significant drooping response, characterized by a biphasic velocity pattern and a stair-step mechanical drooping, whereas anodic stimulation failed to induce any noticeable movement. The development of an electrical circuit model featuring diode pairs further reinforced the polarity-dependent behavior, offering a tangible representation of the plant’s excitability in response to electrical cues. These findings provide a clear mechanistic insight that aligns with known principles of excitability in animal tissues, where cathodic stimulation is similarly responsible for initiating excitation. By extending this understanding into plant physiology, the study not only fills a crucial gap but also establishes a foundation for interpreting bioelectrical phenomena in excitable plants. The use of image processing techniques to track petiole motion underscores the potential of combining experimental and computational tools to unravel complex biological responses. In the near future, such findings may aid in the development of bioelectronic interfaces and novel biomimetic systems.

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