An electric field, a field of electric force surrounding a charged particle, affects the growth, development, morphology, and physiological responses of plants. Previous studies have reported the effects of electric fields on plants, but further investigation is required to understand better how these fields influence plants. Thus, we aimed to explore the effects of both vertical and horizontal electric fields on the growth and physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in controlled environmental conditions. When treated 10-day-old lettuce seedlings with 5 kV/m of vertical or horizontal electrostatic fields for 28 days, the fresh weights of shoots and roots increased. The morphological changes in the leaves differed depending on the direction of the electric field. In addition, electric fields enhanced the uptake mineral content of the plants that is transported into different plant organs and tend to improve their transpiration rate and stomatal conductance. A vertical electric field accelerated sap flow through stems. The rate of the G1 phase of the cell cycle was highest following electric field treatments. Microscopy observations of stomatal size and epidermal cell size supported the notion that mineral uptake was enhanced by the increased transpiration rate and expanded leaf area. Our results indicate that electric fields have positive effects on lettuce growth and physiological responses and that the growth of lettuce is altered by electric fields from different directions. We propose that electric fields could be utilized as an environmental factor to maximize plant productivity and modulate plant responses.

电场，即带电粒子周围的电场，影响植物的生长、发育、形态和生理反应。先前的研究已经报道了电场对植物的影响，但需要进一步研究以更好地了解这些电场如何影响植物。因此，我们的目的是探讨垂直和水平电场对生菜（Lactuca sativa）生长和生理反应的影响。）在受控环境条件下。当用5 kV/m的垂直或水平静电场处理10日龄生菜幼苗28天时，芽和根的鲜重增加。叶子的形态变化根据电场的方向而不同。此外，电场增强了植物对矿物质的吸收，这些矿物质被输送到不同的植物器官中，并且往往会提高其蒸腾速率和气孔导度。垂直电场加速了树液流过茎的速度。电场处理后细胞周期 G1 期的比率最高。气孔大小和表皮细胞大小的显微镜观察支持了蒸腾速率增加和叶面积扩大增强矿物质吸收的观点。我们的结果表明，电场对生菜生长和生理反应具有积极影响，并且不同方向的电场会改变生菜的生长。我们建议可以利用电场作为环境因素来最大限度地提高植物生产力并调节植物反应。