Abstract

The roots, stems, leaves, and vascular circuitry of higher plants are responsible for conveying the chemical signals that regulate growth and functions. From a certain perspective, these features are analogous to the contacts, interconnections, devices, and wires of discrete and integrated electronic circuits. Although many attempts have been made to augment plant function with electroactive materials, plants' "circuitry" has never been directlymerged with electronics. We report analog and digital organic electronic circuits and devices manufactured in living plants. The four key components of a circuit have been achieved using the xylem, leaves, veins, and signals of the plant as the template and integral part of the circuit elements and functions. With integrated and distributed electronics in plants, one can envisage a range of applications including precision recording and regulation of physiology, energy harvesting from photosynthesis, and alternatives to genetic modification for plant optimization.

Published in

Science Advances
2015, Volume: 1, number: 10, article number: e1501136
Publisher: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE

SLU Authors

• Nilsson, Ove

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Developmental Biology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1501136

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/87510