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DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF LEAVES FROM SOME PLANT SPECIES

R.A.HASHMI, N.BANO, S.KHATOON* AND T.AYUB

Abstract: Dielectric properties of fresh leaves of Ficus benghalensis, F. elastica, F. religiosa and Morus nigra (Moraceae) and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae) were measured with time over a wide range of frequencies. The dielectric responses of different species belonging to the same family were qualitatively similar, whereas responses of samples belonging to different families were substantially different. The observed dielectric spectra were found to be a strong function of time. Although the overall effect of time was the reduction in sample conductance but the rate of reduction varied from species to species, which might be due to their anatomical and phytochemical properties.

Condensed Matter Research Lab., Department of Physics, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.