An investigation of an action potential propagation in vascular plant using FitzHugh–Nagumo model

A two-dimensional system of excitable cells, describing by the FitzHugh–Nagumo model, has been used for a theoretical investigation of an action potential propagation (AP) in vascular plant tissues. It is shown that growth of electrical conductivity between cells increases the AP generation threshold and its propagation velocity in the homogeneous system, which has been formed by equal elements. The plant symplast has been described by the heterogeneous system, including elements with low electrical conductivity, which simulate parenchyma cells, and elements with high electrical conductivity, which simulate sieve elements. Analysis of this system shows that the threshold of the AP generation is similar with this threshold in the homogeneous system with low electrical conductivity; the velocity of the AP propagation is faster than one in this system.