Monitoring electrical responses to ionic stress in plants with gold nanomesh electrodes

Abstract

This research introduces the Plantronics system, an innovative method for plant health monitoring in an era of escalating environmental challenges. Utilizing gold-coated PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)/PEC (Pectin) nanomesh electrodes, the system facilitates non-invasive, real-time bioimpedance analysis to monitor plant responses to stress factors, especially ionic and drought stress. This approach overcomes limitations of traditional plant health assessment methods, providing a more accurate and comprehensive evaluation. The biocompatibility, flexibility, and non-toxicity of the gold nanomesh electrodes enable long-term monitoring of plant stress, addressing the shortcomings of previous research. The study employed kale and Scindapsus as model plants, subjecting them to ionic stress using saline solutions and observing changes in proline concentrations as an indicator of stress. These experiments validated the effectiveness of the Plantronics system in detecting plant stress. This study is anticipated to offer insights into plant responses to external stress factors, thereby facilitating the development of more resilient plant varieties and contributing to applications in agriculture and environmental conservation.