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अमूर्त

Plant stem electrical properties associated with stress conditions in plants

Diego Comparini

Statement of the Problem: The analysis of the electrophysiological activity of plants permits a real-time information of the plant status (e.g. light availability and water stress). However, even though it is clear that the role of the electrical signals in plant is crucial, especially in processes involving the propagation of rapid signals, a systematic approach for the interpretation of the electrical patterns is still missing.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: this presentation aims to elucidate long term electrical analysis related to plant stress. For example, the analysis of the physiological status of each plant has been used to correlate different water stress intensities with specific electrical patterns. Here we present a methodology based on a continuous monitoring of several plants in vivo, in a non-destructive way, for a long period through a new set-up that consists of a multi-electrodes system able to detect the electrical signals on several plants (or in different zones of the same plant).

Findings: the electrical properties measurement has been utilized to monitor several parameters (i.e. water stress) of each plant and to evaluate if it was possible to establish when the plant was facing the stress, the timing of the recovery and eventually to differentiate the intensity of the stress (i.e. mild, high or no stress). The comparison between the physiological parameters of the plants and the electrical measurements has highlighted the possibility to use such electrical signal to obtain information on the plant status.

Conclusion & Significance: multi-electrodes approach can be easily applied for monitoring a few plants as “biosensor” to estimate the status of a more numerous group of plants subjected to similar conditions. The set-up could provide a useful tool for monitoring water conditions in plants and has several potential applications for sensor and automatic system in greenhouse or field.