A team of innovative researchers working out of North Carolina State University have developed a high-tech electronic patch that is designed to be attached to plants in order to be able to check for pathogens, signs of environmental stress and other worrying factors that could have a deleterious effect on the given plant.
While the concept of sensors that can be attached to plants isn't altogether new, what makes this new electronic patch unique is the range and scope of factors that it can study. Despite being only around 30mm long, these leaf-attachable electronic patches are fitted with an array of sensors that allow them to monitor a variety of variables that include moisture release, humidity and temperature.
This electronic patch is eventually going to be upgraded into wireless formats before being trialed in field settings. "This could be a significant advance to help growers prevent small problems from becoming big ones, and help us address food security challenges in a meaningful way," said study co-author Yong Zhu.
Plant Disease-Monitoring Patches
This Patch Can Identify Signs Of Disease and Stress In Plants
Trend Themes
1. Electronic Plant Patches - Developing advanced patches fitted with sensors to obtain and analyze data from plants can revolutionize the agricultural industry.
2. Smart Agriculture - Smart agriculture using advanced technology such as electronic patches can help farmers to monitor plant health conditions better and to achieve better yield without impacting the environment.
3. Real-time Monitoring - Real-time monitoring of plant health using electronic patches can help in the early detection of plant diseases and environmental stress, which can disrupt agricultural production, allowing for timely control measures to be implemented.
Industry Implications
1. Agriculture - The agriculture industry can benefit from using advanced technology such as electronic patches to optimize crop yields and improve food security.
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3. Environmental Services - Electronic patches that monitor plants provide an advantage in early detection of environmental stress, and this can be utilized by companies offering environmental services to combat global warming, food scarcity, and desertification.