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Related Concept Videos

Key Elements for Plant Nutrition02:35

Key Elements for Plant Nutrition

Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the atmosphere, the...
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Microbial Biosensors

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...
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Cell Signaling in Plants

Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
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Plant cells maintain appropriate osmotic balance in extreme conditions. For instance, plants in dry environments store water in vacuoles, limit the opening of their stoma, and have thick, waxy cuticles to prevent unnecessary water loss. Some species of plants that live in salty environments store salt in their roots. As a result, water osmosis occurs in the root from the surrounding soil.
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Wide-Field, Real-Time Imaging of Local and Systemic Wound Signals in Arabidopsis
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Wide-Field, Real-Time Imaging of Local and Systemic Wound Signals in Arabidopsis

Published on: June 4, 2021

Plants as environmental biosensors.

Alexander G Volkov1, Don Rufus A Ranatunga

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Oakwood College; Huntsville, Alabama USA.

Plant Signaling & Behavior
|June 13, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Green plants generate electrical signals in response to environmental changes. This review explores their potential as rapid biosensors for detecting light direction, pollutants, and insect attacks.

Keywords:
action potentialbiosensorplant electrophysiologyplant signaling

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A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant–Environment Interactions
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Wide-Field, Real-Time Imaging of Local and Systemic Wound Signals in Arabidopsis
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A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant–Environment Interactions
15:30

A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant–Environment Interactions

Published on: August 5, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Plant physiology
  • Biosensing technology

Background:

  • Plants possess survival sensory mechanisms against environmental perturbations.
  • Environmental changes trigger electrical signals (action and variation potentials) in plants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for using green plants as fast biosensors.
  • To highlight applications in molecular recognition and environmental monitoring.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on plant electrical signaling.
  • Analysis of ultra-fast action potential measurements in green plants.

Main Results:

  • Plants generate rapid electrical signals in response to various stimuli.
  • Green plants show potential for detecting light direction, environmental pollutants, and insect attacks.

Conclusions:

  • Green plants can be utilized as effective and rapid biosensors.
  • This approach offers novel methods for environmental monitoring and molecular recognition.