The Origin of Dielectric Permittivity in Plants

Dielectric permittivity describes how a material becomes polarized in response to a time-varying electric field and provides a powerful framework for probing the physical organization of biological systems. This review aims to clarify the origin of dielectric permittivity in plants, offering a conceptually grounded interpretation while keeping mathematical formalism to the level necessary for biological interpretation. We first outline the fundamental mechanisms of polarization, their characteristic time scales, and the frequency-dependent nature of the dielectric response, including the concept of complex permittivity, together with commonly used measurement approaches in biological materials. Particular attention is given to water, whose dielectric properties play a dominant role in plant tissues. We then examine how permittivity varies across different plant organs, including leaves, fruits, and roots, highlighting the relationship between dielectric response and structural and compositional features. Modeling strategies linking microscopic organization to macroscopic dielectric behavior are also discussed. Because dielectric permittivity is intrinsically connected to plant structure and composition, non-invasive measurements offer significant potential for assessing plant physiological status, including the detection of changes induced by abiotic and biotic stresses. By bridging engineering approaches with plant physiology, this review provides a unified framework to interpret dielectric measurements in plants and supports their application in plant science and phenotyping.