Sunday 20 April 2025
Scientists have long been fascinated by the way plants communicate with each other and their environment. From releasing chemical signals to attract beneficial insects, to using changes in color to warn off predators, plants have evolved a range of clever ways to interact with the world around them.
Now, researchers have taken this research a step further by exploring whether plants can be used as sensors to detect changes in their surroundings. In other words, could they become tiny, green, bio-detectors?
The team behind the study set out to answer this question by using a type of plant called basil to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that plants release into the air in response to stress or other environmental changes.
To do this, they used a specialized sensor designed to capture VOCs and analyzed the data using machine learning algorithms. They then compared their results to those from traditional sensors, which are usually expensive and require complex equipment.
The findings were impressive: the plant-based sensor was able to detect VOCs with accuracy similar to that of the traditional sensors, but at a much lower cost. This could have significant implications for monitoring air quality in homes, offices, and other indoor spaces, where VOCs can accumulate and pose health risks.
But how do plants manage to detect these chemicals? It turns out that basil leaves contain tiny hairs called trichomes, which are highly sensitive to changes in their environment. When a VOC is released into the air, the trichomes on the leaf surface absorb it, triggering a chemical response that can be detected by the sensor.
This discovery could have far-reaching implications for environmental monitoring and even disease detection. For example, plants could potentially be used to detect early signs of pests or diseases in crops, allowing farmers to take action before damage is done.
The researchers are already exploring ways to scale up their technology, using different types of plants and sensors to develop more sensitive and robust systems. As they continue to refine their approach, it’s likely that we’ll see plant-based sensors become a common tool for monitoring our environment in the years to come.
For now, it’s clear that plants are more than just pretty decorations or tasty additions to salads – they’re also tiny, green, bio-detectors waiting to be tapped into.
Cite this article: “Unlocking the Secrets of Plant Communication: A Breakthrough in Detecting Volatile Organic Compounds”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Plants, Sensors, Communication, Detection, Volatile Organic Compounds, Air Quality, Monitoring, Machine Learning, Trichomes, Bio-Detectors
