Faint bioelectrical signals emitted by plants can be used to monitor their needs thanks to EU-funded researchers developing novel biosensors.
Plants may appear to do nothing, but in fact they are actively sensing and responding to a wide range of environmental stimuli such as light levels, temperature, gas concentrations, soil chemistry and humidity, the presence of insects or mammals and other conditions.
Many plants use transient electrical signals to control the speed of photosynthesis or respiration, the rate or direction of growth, the emission of chemicals as a defence against herbivores, and other physiological responses. Scientists have known about these signals for many years but they have not been practically applied because of difficulties in measuring them, as they are tiny relative to background electromagnetic interference.
The Horizon 2020 PhytlSigns project has achieved a breakthrough by creating a low-cost, real-time plant monitoring device based on bioelectrical signals. “PhytlSigns is the first ‘wearable’ for plants, harnessing electrical signals and translating them into digital form before visualising them for further analysis. By amplifying plant signals and reducing background noise researchers and growers can measure activity in response to changing conditions,” says project coordinator Carrol Plummer.
Read more about this exciting H2020 project at Cordis – Community Research and Development Information Service