Effect of tissue infrastructure on electric conductance of vegetable stems

This study measures the electric conductance and examines the microscopic s tructure of bamboo shoots, sugarcane, lettuce stem, and mustard stem. The e lectric conductance readings vary from 0.09 S/m to 0.72 S/m across the stem , and from 0.19 S/m to 0.46 S/m along the stem. The electric conductance al ong the stem is higher than the electric conductance across the stem in bam boo shoots and sugarcane, while the reverse Is true in lettuce stem and mus tard stem. The orientation of vascular bundles and the shape of parenchyma cells are proposed to account for the different conductance readings from t he same vegetable in different directions. The orientation of vascular bund les appear to influence electric conductance more than the shape of parench yma cells when both factors are present in the same time.