Placing a conformable electrode (a piece of conductive material) on the surface of a Venus flytrap plant, the NTU Singapore team has developed a device communication with plants.
In this way they want to capture electrical signals to monitor how the plant responds to its environment and transmit electrical signals to the plant to make it close its leaves.
Weak signals
The device has a diameter of 3 mm and is harmless to the plant. It does not affect the plant's ability to perform photosynthesis while successfully detecting the plant's electrical signals. The NTU team was inspired by the electrocardiogram (ECG), which is used to detect heart abnormalities by measuring the electrical activity generated by the organ.
Their findings were published in the magazine Nature Electronics. Developing the ability to measure electrical signals from plants could create opportunities for a variety of useful applications, such as plant-based robots that can help pick up fragile objects or help improve food security by detecting diseases in early crops.
According to the lead author of the study, Chen Xiaodong, President Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at NTU Singapore:
Climate change is threatening food security around the world. By monitoring the plants' electrical signals, we can detect possible distress signals and abnormalities. When used for agricultural purposes, farmers can discover when a disease is in progress, even before full symptoms appear on crops, such as yellowing leaves. This can give us the opportunity to act quickly to maximize crop yields for the population.
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The news
Using electrical signals, this device can communicate with plants
was originally published in
Xataka Science
by
Sergio Parra
.