A study examining the effects of diethyl ether on the photosynthetic activity of Dionaea muscipula
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59463/y4cxt062Keywords:
photosynthesis, carnivorous plant, fluorescence, stressAbstract
Research on photosynthetic activity in plants exposed to chemical stress is gaining importance in plant physiology. Studying how plants respond to anaesthetics has practical implications for comparative biology, plant neurobiology, and experimental medicine. This study assessed changes in photosystem II (PSII) efficiency using fluorescence measurements taken before and during exposure to diethyl ether. The methodology was used to identify any physiological effects of diethyl ether on photosynthetic processes, based on the hypothesis that anaesthetics could influence both plant and animal signal transmission mechanisms. In sensitive plants such as Dionaea muscipula, mechanical stimuli trigger action potentials that travel through the plant and cause the trap to close. Exposure to diethyl ether inhibits the transmission of these electrical signals, preventing the plant from responding to touch. This process results in a temporary suppression of the plant’s signalling pathways. The present study aimed to examine the impact of diethyl ether on the photosynthetic activity of Dionaea muscipula, a plant species distinguished by its sensitivity and complex responses to external stimuli. Throughout the experiment, physiological and behavioural changes resulting from exposure to this volatile compound were evaluated to elucidate how plants respond to acute chemical stress. The findings clearly demonstrate that diethyl ether functions as a specific inhibitory agent, producing discernible and measurable effects on both the photosynthetic apparatus and plant communication systems in Dionaea muscipula. Because Dionaea muscipula exhibits a rapid response comparable to systems found certain animal species, it is relevant to examine the effects of a volatile anaesthetic like diethyl ether on these processes.
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