Updated October 14, 2024:
We developed a series of wearable plant sensors designed to monitor critical indicators of plant health directly in the field. These include a reactive oxygen species sensor that uses microneedles coated with a biohydrogel to measure hydrogen peroxide, a key marker of plant stress, in soybean plants. This sensor delivers rapid results within 1-3 minutes and provides an easy, low-cost way to track plant responses to stress. Additionally, we developed a virus detection sensor for the bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) in soybean plants, utilizing a specialized material that selectively binds to virus particles, delivering results in under 2 minutes. This sensor surpasses traditional lab tests in speed and convenience, enabling real-time virus monitoring in the field. Finally, we created a pesticide uptake sensor that measures how much dicamba herbicide is absorbed by soybean plants. Using microneedles designed to bind dicamba molecules, the sensor provides real-time insights into herbicide uptake, helping optimize pesticide use for more sustainable agricultural practices. Together, these sensors offer portable, fast, and efficient tools for tracking plant health, enabling better stress management and integrated pest control strategies for soybeans.
This research led to the development of novel wearable sensors that enable real-time, in-situ monitoring of reactive oxygen species, plant viruses, and pesticide uptake. The new knowledge gained from this work includes the discovery of how bioelectrodes, microneedles, and molecularly imprinted polymers can be combined to create highly sensitive and selective sensors capable of detecting chemical and biological changes within plants. This research also demonstrates the ability to monitor plant responses under biotic stress, virus infection, and herbicide absorption, providing insights into plant physiology beyond traditional measurements. The practical applications of this research include the ability for farmers and agricultural industries to use these wearable sensors for on-site, rapid, and cost-effective monitoring of plant health. The sensors can be applied directly in the field, reducing the need for complex, time-consuming, and expensive lab-based methods like liquid chromatography, polymerase chain reaction, or histological staining. By providing real-time data, the sensors empower more informed decision-making for pest management, stress monitoring, and herbicide application. This new knowledge and technology have the potential to significantly impact the agricultural industry and farmers by improving crop management, reducing chemical inputs, and promoting more sustainable farming practices.