“talking”-to-plants-could-help-them-prepare-for-possible-threats,-according-to-a-new-study“Talking” to plants could help them prepare for possible threats, according to a new study
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By The newspaper

26 Sep 2023, 00:42 AM EDT

In a groundbreaking advance, scientists have initiated conversations with plants using light-based messages, aiming to warn them of impending threats and activate their natural defense mechanisms.

Researchers, working with the tobacco plant Nicotiana benthamiana, have successfully activated the plant’s immune response using light as a stimulus.

This achievement has the potential to transform our relationship with plants and improve agricultural practices, according to the study published in PLOS Biology.

Plant communication: a novel approach

The research team’s goal is to communicate with plants and enable them to anticipate and respond to environmental challenges effectively.

By warning plants about impending disease outbreaks, pest attacks, or extreme weather events such as heat waves or droughts, they hope to empower plants to activate their natural defense mechanisms and ultimately minimize damage.

This approach could lead to more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices while reducing reliance on chemical interventions.

The power of light-based communication

The study leveraged a pioneering technology called Highlighter to activate the expression of specific genes in plants. Originally developed for prokaryotes (simple organisms lacking a nucleus and other organelles), Highlighter has been adapted for use in plants.

This technology falls within the realm of optogenetics, a field of science that uses light to manipulate biomolecular processes. It offers several advantages, including non-invasiveness, low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness.

Manipulating plant photoreceptors, responsible for coordinating growth, development, and responses to light, presented a unique challenge in this study. Plants have a multitude of photoreceptors, which makes precise control a complex task. However, the research team successfully adjusted the highlighter to influence both plant immunity and pigment production.

This advance opens the doors to various possibilities in plant science and agriculture. The application of optogenetic tools in plants, exemplified by Highlighter, offers high-resolution genetic control, allowing researchers to delve deeper into fundamental questions in plant biology.

In addition, it is promising for crop improvement. Researchers imagine scenarios in which different light conditions trigger specific plant responses, improving traits such as flowering or ripening.

Interestingly, this communication with plants does not have to be unilateral. Even if we don’t hear it, plants have their ways of communicating. They can emit distress signals when under pressure, although these signals are beyond our hearing range.

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