Cambridge, United Kingdom – In a fascinating endeavor that bridges science fiction with reality, a team of plant scientists at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) is pioneering the use of light-based messaging to establish communication with plants. This cutting-edge research, still in its early stages, has demonstrated the ability to control plant immunity and pigment production through modifications in light conditions.
Drawing inspiration from the ubiquity of light as a medium for human communication, the research team, led by Alexander Jones, is working on tools that enable plants to communicate with humans and vice versa. Their innovative approach leverages light as a messenger to convey signals between plants and humans, introducing exciting possibilities for the future of agriculture and our relationship with plants.
Previously, the University of Cambridge team engineered biosensors, including ABACUS2 and GPS1, employing fluorescent light to provide real-time insights into cellular-level activities within plants. These biosensors decode the dynamics of essential plant hormones, offering a direct channel for plants to communicate with humans by visually conveying how they respond to environmental stresses.
Their most recent breakthrough, described in a research paper published in PLOS Biology, introduces a novel tool named “Highlighter.” This tool harnesses specific light conditions to activate the expression of target genes in plants, effectively triggering their defense mechanisms. This innovation turns the tables, enabling humans to communicate with plants.
The concept of meaningful communication between humans and plants has long fascinated many. If realized, this capability could potentially revolutionize agriculture by allowing early warnings of disease outbreaks, pest attacks, or extreme weather events. Plants could then activate their natural defense mechanisms, ultimately leading to more sustainable farming practices and reducing the reliance on chemical interventions.
Optogenetics, a scientific technique that utilizes light stimuli to control specific processes within cells, serves as the cornerstone of this research. It typically involves the insertion of light-sensitive proteins, known as photoreceptors, into target cells. Light is then directed onto these cells to activate or deactivate the desired process.
While optogenetics has significantly advanced neuroscience by enabling precise control of individual neurons, adapting it to plants has posed unique challenges. Unlike animal cells, plant cells already contain numerous photoreceptors and respond to a wide spectrum of light for growth and development. The transition from darkness to light also triggers native plant photoreceptors and a complex array of cellular systems.
Furthermore, many highly effective optogenetic actuators for this technique utilize genetic components from plants. This introduces a risk of cross-talk and interference with existing photoreceptors in plants.
The development of “Highlighter” by Bo Larsen, engineered during his tenure at SLCU, represents a significant stride towards effective communication with plants. This light-controlled gene expression system, specifically tailored for plants, uses minimally invasive light signals. Importantly, it can be activated and inactivated without interference from the natural light-dark cycling that occurs in growth chambers.
Notably, “Highlighter” remains inactive under blue light conditions but becomes active in the dark and under various light conditions, including white light, green light, and intriguingly, red light. This versatile tool has already demonstrated the ability to exert optogenetic control over plant immunity, pigment production, and cellular processes with high precision.
Dr. Jones emphasizes that this breakthrough holds immense potential for understanding fundamental aspects of plant biology. Additionally, the growing toolbox of optical properties opens exciting avenues for crop improvement. In the future, it could be possible to employ specific light conditions to activate an immune response in plants or precisely time essential traits such as flowering or ripening.
While this research opens new horizons in plant communication, Dr. Jones underscores that the primary focus should remain on reducing excessive salt application and environmental pollutants. Ultimately, this research offers an innovative tool in the arsenal of sustainable agricultural practices, promoting more efficient and harmonious coexistence between humans and plants.