Polarization-depolarization phenomena in apples

Measurement of the dielectric properties of biological materials is important for several reasons. Calculation of the electric fields and currents produced in biological objects exposed to external sources requires knowledge of the dielectric constant and conductivity of the object at the frequencies of exposure. Variations in the dielectric properties can also be correlated with physiological changes. Finally, an understanding of the conduction and polarization mechanisms may eventually lead to an explanation of the observed biological effects of weak fields. This paper investigates the suitability of time domain methods for the determination of the dielectric spectrum (variation of capacitance, conductance and dielectric loss with frequency) of an apple. A fruit was chosen as the object of study because the physical conditions are more more readily controlled for plant than for animal tissues.