Sensing Some (Plant) Stress

Ready, set, grow: It’s no secret that farmers and plant fanatics must keep a close eye on their jolly green friends to keep them healthy. But oftentimes, plant SOS signals appear when it’s too late to help them.

Now, researchers have developed patch-style sensors to detect plants’ stress levels before they wilt or wither.

Experts say: “Pests, drought, extreme temperatures, and infections all cause stress in plants. In response, plants’ normal biochemistry gets out of whack, and they produce hydrogen peroxide.” — American Chemical Society

Sensitive stuff: The patch is held in place by plastic microneedles on the underside of a leaf. When hydrogen peroxide levels get wacky, electrochemical sensors detect the change and convert it into a measurable electric current. 

More than a patch job: The current procedures for testing hydrogen peroxide levels require multiple out-of-field steps that are tedious and time consuming. But these innovative patches allow growers to analyze a plant’s chemical fingerprint in real time.

Efficient and cost effective, the patch collects data in “under a minute for less than a dollar per test.” Which means more plant lovers than ever can take action to keep their plants blessed, not stressed.

A sustainable solution: Patches can be reused nine times before their sharp microneedles stop sticking. Plus, some similar sensors are biodegradable—opening the door to an even more eco-friendly system. 

So far, the tech has been tested on tobacco and soybean plants. This early detection system has unbe-LEAF-able potential!