venus fly trap response

venus fly trap

carnivorous plant that obtains a supply of nitrogen compounds by trapping and digesting small animals

anatomy

midrib…2 lobes…glands with digestive enzymes…3 sensory hairs on each lobe…nectar glands…stiff outer edges

electrical communication

microelectrodes in leaf cells detect potential differences

depolarisation and repolarisation

outflow of Cl- followed by outflow of K+

action potentials

travel along cell membranes and through plasmodesmata

step 1

sensory hair is deflected

step 2

calcium channels at the base open…calcium ions flow in and generate a receptor potential

step 3

within 30 seconds, if 2 hairs or 1 hair gets stimulated twice…action potential spreads across the lobe and the trap closes

step 4

further stimulation causes tighter shut as more calcium ions enter…vesicles secrete digestive enzymes

energy saving adaptations

1 hair wont close the trap…large gaps between edges allow worthless small insects to escape