Plant sensors could act as an early warning system for farmers

Researchers from MIT and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have developed a novel way to monitor plant stress using a pair of sensors made from carbon nanotubes. These sensors detect signaling molecules that plants use to coordinate their response to stress, such as hydrogen peroxide and salicylic acid (similar to aspirin). By analyzing the production of these molecules at different time points, the system creates distinctive patterns that serve as an early warning system for farmers.

Here’s how it works: When plants experience stress due to factors like heat, light, or attack from insects or bacteria, they produce specific chemical signals. The two sensors, one for hydrogen peroxide and the other for salicylic acid, work together to identify the type of stress the plant is undergoing. These chemical changes serve as unique fingerprints for different stressors, allowing farmers to intervene before crops are lost.

The research, published in Nature Communications, involved collaboration with Sarojam Rajani, a senior principal investigator at the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory in Singapore. The lead authors of the paper are Mervin Chun-Yi Ang, associate scientific director at SMART, and Jolly Madathiparambil Saju, a research officer at Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory1.

This innovative approach could revolutionize crop management by providing real-time information on plant health and stress levels, allowing farmers to take timely actions to protect their crops2. The ability to detect stress signals early could significantly improve agricultural productivity and reduce losses due to environmental challenges.