In Vivo Detection of Glutamate in Tomatoes by an Enzyme-Based Electrochemical Biosensor

The in vivo and on-site detection of key physiology parameters in plants will be of great relevance for precision agriculture and food technology. In this work, a sensitive enzymatic glutamate sensor was successfully developed. To enhance the conductivity and catalytic ability and to fix the glutamate oxidase, Au-Pt nanoparticles were first deposited on screen-printed electrodes, and then carboxylated graphene oxide and carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes were fabricated for the synthesis of the electrode. The detection range of the glutamate sensor is widest (2 μM to 16 mM) up to date, and its detection limit is relatively low (0.14 μM). A number of standard curves were built in the pH range of 3.5-7.5, which can be applied in various plants and fruits. Using this sensor, the glutamate level in tomatoes was determined in vivo. This glutamate sensor has important practical value in precision agriculture. Our strategy also provides a way to establish the detection modes for other biomolecules in plants.