Soon, plant-cyborgs to act as environmental biosensors

Researchers are creating plant-cyborgs that will act as biosensors to provide feedback on their environment.
Like most living organisms, plants produce electrical signals in response to external stimuli.
By classifying which electrical signals are produced in response to which stimulus, researchers said it will be possible to use plants as biosensors.
They could then be used to measure a variety of chemical and physical parameters, such as pollution, temperature, humidity, sunlight, acid rain, and the presence of chemicals in organic agriculture, 'Gizmag' reported.
Andrea Vitaletti coordinator of the PLants Employed As SEnsing Devices (PLEASED) project said that there are already artificial devices capable of measuring such parameters, but plants are everywhere, cheap, robust and don't require calibration.

They are also able to measure multiple parameters simultaneously.

If the electrical signals can be deciphered, the team plans to develop small electronic devices, the size of paperclips or smaller, that will be embedded in the plant to collect signals generated in its natural environment.
By collecting the signals of a network of plants in the same area, Vitaletti said it will be possible to produce a clear analysis of the environment.
He cited pollution monitoring and certification devices for organic farming as just two of the practical applications envisaged for the technology.