The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to farmersjournal.ie on this browser until 9pm next Wednesday. Thank you for buying the paper and using the code.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact us.
For assistance, call 01 4199525
or email subs@farmersjournal.ie
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
Reset password
Please enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address.
Please click on the link in this email to reset
your password. If you can't find it in your inbox,
please check your spam folder. If you can't
find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
Email address not recognised
There is no subscription associated with this email
address. To read our subscriber-only content.
please subscribe or use the reader loyalty code.
If would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525
You have no more free articles this month
We hope you've enjoyed your 6 free articles. To continue reading, sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.
Using a smartphone, the team made the Venus flytrap close its leaves in 1.3 seconds.
A team of Singapore-based scientists has developed a device that can deliver electrical signals to and from plants, opening the door to a range new possibilities.
The Singapore NTU research team developed their plant ‘communication’ device by attaching a conformable electrode (a piece of conductive material) on the surface of a Venus flytrap plant, using a soft and sticky adhesive known as hydrogel.
With the electrode attached to the surface of the flytrap, researchers achieved two things - picked up electrical signals to monitor how the plant responds to its environment; and transmitted electrical signals to the plant to cause it to close its leaves.
Electrical signals
The scientists took their plant ‘communication’ device and attached it to the surface of a Venus flytrap.
The sensor attached to the plant.
Scientists have known for decades that plants emit electrical signals to sense and respond to their environment.
The research team believe that developing the ability to measure the electrical signals of plants could create opportunities for a range of applications, such as monitoring the health of crops and developing plant-based robots.
Signal transmission
However, plants’ electrical signals are very weak and can only be detected when the electrode makes good contact with plant surfaces.
The hairy, waxy and irregular surfaces of plants make it difficult for any thin-film electronic device to attach and achieve reliable signal transmission.
To overcome this challenge, the team drew inspiration from the electrocardiogram (ECG), which is used to detect heart abnormalities by measuring the electrical activity generated by the organ.
Plant-based robot
As a proof of concept, the scientists took their plant ‘communication’ device and attached it to the surface of a Venus flytrap - a carnivorous plant with hairy leaf lobes that close and trap insects when triggered.
The device has a diameter of 3mm and is harmless to the plant. It does not affect the plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis while successfully detecting electrical signals from the plant.
Using a smartphone to transmit electric pulses to the device at a specific frequency, the team made the Venus flytrap close its leaves on demand in 1.3 seconds.
The researchers have also attached the Venus flytrap to a robotic arm and, through a smartphone and the ‘communication’ device, stimulated its leaf to close and pick up a piece of wire half a millimetre in diameter. Watch the video below.
Their findings, published in the scientific journal Nature Electronics in January, demonstrate the prospects for the future design of plant-based technological systems, say the research team.
Their approach could lead to the creation of more sensitive robot grippers to pick up fragile objects that may be harmed by current rigid ones.
Crop health monitoring
The research team envisions a future where farmers can take preventative steps to protect their crops, using the plant ‘communication’ device they have developed.
Lead author of the study Chen Xiaodong, president's chair professor in materials science and engineering at NTU Singapore, said: "Climate change is threatening food security around the world. By monitoring the plants’ electrical signals, we may be able to detect possible distress signals and abnormalities.
“When used for agricultural purposes, farmers may find out when a disease is in progress, even before full-blown symptoms appear on the crops, such as yellowed leaves. This may provide us the opportunity to act quickly to maximise crop yield for the population,” he concluded.
A team of Singapore-based scientists has developed a device that can deliver electrical signals to and from plants, opening the door to a range new possibilities.
The Singapore NTU research team developed their plant ‘communication’ device by attaching a conformable electrode (a piece of conductive material) on the surface of a Venus flytrap plant, using a soft and sticky adhesive known as hydrogel.
With the electrode attached to the surface of the flytrap, researchers achieved two things - picked up electrical signals to monitor how the plant responds to its environment; and transmitted electrical signals to the plant to cause it to close its leaves.
Electrical signals
The scientists took their plant ‘communication’ device and attached it to the surface of a Venus flytrap.
The sensor attached to the plant.
Scientists have known for decades that plants emit electrical signals to sense and respond to their environment.
The research team believe that developing the ability to measure the electrical signals of plants could create opportunities for a range of applications, such as monitoring the health of crops and developing plant-based robots.
Signal transmission
However, plants’ electrical signals are very weak and can only be detected when the electrode makes good contact with plant surfaces.
The hairy, waxy and irregular surfaces of plants make it difficult for any thin-film electronic device to attach and achieve reliable signal transmission.
To overcome this challenge, the team drew inspiration from the electrocardiogram (ECG), which is used to detect heart abnormalities by measuring the electrical activity generated by the organ.
Plant-based robot
As a proof of concept, the scientists took their plant ‘communication’ device and attached it to the surface of a Venus flytrap - a carnivorous plant with hairy leaf lobes that close and trap insects when triggered.
The device has a diameter of 3mm and is harmless to the plant. It does not affect the plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis while successfully detecting electrical signals from the plant.
Using a smartphone to transmit electric pulses to the device at a specific frequency, the team made the Venus flytrap close its leaves on demand in 1.3 seconds.
The researchers have also attached the Venus flytrap to a robotic arm and, through a smartphone and the ‘communication’ device, stimulated its leaf to close and pick up a piece of wire half a millimetre in diameter. Watch the video below.
Their findings, published in the scientific journal Nature Electronics in January, demonstrate the prospects for the future design of plant-based technological systems, say the research team.
Their approach could lead to the creation of more sensitive robot grippers to pick up fragile objects that may be harmed by current rigid ones.
Crop health monitoring
The research team envisions a future where farmers can take preventative steps to protect their crops, using the plant ‘communication’ device they have developed.
Lead author of the study Chen Xiaodong, president's chair professor in materials science and engineering at NTU Singapore, said: "Climate change is threatening food security around the world. By monitoring the plants’ electrical signals, we may be able to detect possible distress signals and abnormalities.
“When used for agricultural purposes, farmers may find out when a disease is in progress, even before full-blown symptoms appear on the crops, such as yellowed leaves. This may provide us the opportunity to act quickly to maximise crop yield for the population,” he concluded.
You should only be getting advice on pesticides from trained pesticide advisers and purchasing chemicals from registered pesticide distribution stores and pesticide distributors.
Dr Edward Straw of Trinity College writes about how the active ingredient is a small part of a pesticide. Co-formulants which help the product to work are a large part of the ingredients.
A second, specialised demonstration will take place at the event this year and will put 17 mechanical weed control machines for field vegetable crops to the test write Andy Whelton and Stephen Robb.
Save to a collection
Recent collections
This article has already been saved
This article has been saved
Create a collection
Subscriber only
This content is available to digital subscribers only. Sign in to your account or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.SIGN INSUBSCRIBE FOR €1
SHARING OPTIONS: