Plants, like humans, can also become stressed by their surroundings. In fact, anxious plants find it challenging to perform their photosynthetic functions for fruit production.

Several conditions can result in plants experiencing stress, such as unbearable temperatures, drought, and intense light. In the event that farmers are able to perceive early symptoms and signs of stress in their crops, they could take protective measures to guarantee maximum yields like providing more cooling, shade, or water.

This is the primary objective suggested by Matane Hirsch. Hirsch is part of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s department of plant sciences, and his research is focused on stress in potatoes. Under the supervision of plant scientist Shilo Rosenwasser, Hirsch attached molecular biosensors to potatoes to examine them for signs of real-time stress.

Why Potatoes?

The potato is a primary food crop in Israel and makes up 40% of the country’s exports. This crop is vital for food security globally, providing millions with essential nutrients such as vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, protein, and minerals.

The Scientific Research

The team used genetic engineering to add a new gene into their potatoes. They coded this new gene with a fluorescent protein, thereby producing potatoes that can glow when they experience harsh weather conditions and other types of plant stress.

This research is still in its early days. The researchers are paying particular attention to the photon emissions from the biosensor present in the potato to determine the starting phase of plant stress responses. Ultimately, the team aims to design a handy and cost-effective camera that helps farmers monitor their crops.

However, there are certain pros and cons to the genetic approach:

Pro: The genetic encoding is a one-time procedure passed on to subsequent generations of the potato.

Con: People tend to shy away from genetically modified crops.

Rosenwasser proposes that one way of overcoming people’s concerns about genetically modified crops could be to cultivate a specific number of light-emitting potatoes on a farm to determine the overall stress level in that farm. These modified potatoes will then be removed once they perform their purpose instead of harvesting them for consumption.

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