Portable plant surface potential detection device and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a portable plant surface potential detection device and method, the device comprises a detection electrode assembly, a portable electrochemical workstation and a terminal computer, the detection electrode assembly is electrically connected with the electrochemical workstation through a shielding conductive wire, and the electrochemical workstation is in bidirectional communication connection with the terminal computer. Plant surface potential monitoring is carried out by creatively adopting an open circuit electrochemical method, traditional high-price patch clamp equipment is replaced with a low-cost portable electrochemical workstation, and all parts of the device are in portable modular design and can be quickly assembled and disassembled, so that the device is convenient to use and popularize. And the field real-time monitoring of the surface potential of plant stalks and leaves in a field natural growth state is realized. According to the device, under set detection and stimulation parameters, personal errors are effectively reduced, detection data are accurate, stability is high, potential response rules of plants under stimulation of fire, damage and the like can be captured, and the device has the advantages of being low in cost, portable, high in adaptability and wide in application prospect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of plant physiological detection technology, specifically to a portable plant surface potential detection device and method. Background Technology

[0002] Changes in plant surface potential are a core physiological response mechanism in plants. Accurate and real-time monitoring of plant surface potential is crucial for exploring plant physiological mechanisms, promoting precision agriculture, and developing plant energy applications. Currently, the most commonly used method for plant electrophysiological monitoring is the patch-clamp method, which uses specialized patch-clamp instruments. While this technique can achieve potential detection at the cellular level, it has significant technical limitations: First, patch-clamp equipment is expensive, resulting in high experimental costs and hindering large-scale and widespread application. Second, the equipment is bulky and complex, limiting operation to fixed laboratory settings and failing to meet the needs of field monitoring in natural growing environments such as fields and outdoors. Third, the patch-clamp method primarily targets potential detection at the plant cell level, making it difficult to rapidly achieve dynamic monitoring of the overall surface potential of plant stems and leaves, thus limiting its adaptability and detection efficiency.

[0003] Currently, there is no plant surface potential monitoring method that combines low cost, portability, and on-site detection capability, which cannot meet the practical needs of field research on plant physiological mechanisms, on-site monitoring of crop growth status, and precision regulation of agricultural production. Therefore, developing a low-cost, portable plant surface potential detection device that can be used for on-site field detection has significant research value and application prospects. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: The purpose of this invention is to provide a portable plant surface potential detection device and method. This device uses an open circuit electrochemical method to replace the traditional patch clamp equipment, which has the advantages of low cost, small size, and rapid on-site assembly. It can also be adapted to the detection of surface potential of plant stems and leaves under different stimuli, solving the technical problems of high cost and inability to be used for field monitoring of existing patch clamp equipment.

[0005] Technical Solution: The portable plant surface potential detection device of the present invention includes a detection electrode assembly, a portable electrochemical workstation, and a terminal computer. The detection electrode assembly and the portable electrochemical workstation are electrically connected via conductive wires, and the portable electrochemical workstation and the terminal computer are bidirectionally connected via a communication data line. The detection electrode assembly is used to collect surface potential signals by contacting the plant detection site. The portable electrochemical workstation is used to receive and preliminarily process the surface potential signals. The terminal computer is used to set detection parameters, receive the processed signals, and visualize, store, and analyze the data. The detection electrode assembly is connected to the portable electrochemical workstation, and the portable electrochemical workstation and the terminal computer communicate bidirectionally via a communication data line. All three components are portable, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly, and are suitable for laboratory and outdoor field testing.

[0006] The portable electrochemical workstation is a signal receiving and preliminary processing unit. It is small in size and easy to carry. Its core detection parameters, such as sampling interval and detection run time, can be remotely set via a terminal computer. The minimum sampling interval can be set to 0.1s, which can accurately capture the instantaneous changes in surface potential of plants after stimulation. The workstation can receive the surface potential analog signal transmitted by the detection electrode assembly, complete the preliminary processing such as signal amplification and conversion, and then transmit the digitized signal to the terminal computer for further processing. At the same time, the workstation can provide real-time feedback on the detection status, which allows the experimenter to adjust the detection parameters in a timely manner.

[0007] The terminal computer is the control and data processing unit for the detection. It is a portable laptop or tablet computer with built-in dedicated electrochemical workstation data processing software. This software can adjust the detection parameters, including the sampling interval and running time of the electrochemical workstation, as well as external stimulation parameters such as stimulation interval and stimulation time. At the same time, it can receive the digital surface potential signal transmitted by the portable electrochemical workstation, plot the potential-time change curve in real time, automatically extract key information such as signal peak value and trend, and support the comparison, storage and export of multiple sets of detection data, which is convenient for researchers to conduct in-depth analysis and research.

[0008] Preferably, the detection electrode assembly includes a reference electrode, a counter electrode, a working electrode, and a fixing member for fixing each electrode to the plant surface. The reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode are metal wire electrodes. The fixing member secures the three electrode wires, ensuring that the electrode assembly is stably and tightly attached to the plant surface, guaranteeing good contact between the electrodes and the plant, avoiding signal distortion caused by electrode misalignment during detection, and ensuring that the detection signal represents the plant's true physiological response.

[0009] Preferably, the metal wire electrode is made of platinum wire-platinum wire, platinum wire-silver wire, or silver wire-silver wire.

[0010] Preferably, the metal wire is a platinum wire-platinum wire, which can reduce the difference in detection signals and improve detection stability.

[0011] Preferably, the sampling interval and detection running time of the portable electrochemical workstation can be flexibly set by the terminal computer, with a minimum sampling interval of 0.1s, which can accurately capture the dynamic changes in the surface potential of plants after stimulation.

[0012] Preferably, the conductive wire is a shielded wire, which can effectively reduce external electromagnetic interference and avoid distortion during the acquisition of surface potential signals.

[0013] Preferably, the terminal computer has built-in dedicated data processing software for electrochemical workstations, which can plot the plant surface potential-time change curve in real time, automatically extract signal peaks, and support the adjustment of parameters such as stimulation interval, stimulation time, and stimulation distance.

[0014] Preferably, the device is adapted to detect the surface potential of plant fire stimulation and damage shear stimulation.

[0015] Preferably, the fire stimulation time is 0.9~1.1s, the distance is 0.9~1.1cm, and the stimulation interval is 150s~200s. This meets the recovery time requirements of plants after stimulation, effectively avoids the problem of fluctuating surface potential response values ​​caused by short-term continuous stimulation, significantly reduces human error, and improves the repeatability of detection data. More preferably, the fire stimulation time is 1s and the distance is 1cm.

[0016] The portable plant surface potential detection method using the device described in this invention includes the following steps: S1: Securely attach the detection electrode assembly to the plant detection site using a fastener; S2: Connect the detection electrode assembly to the portable electrochemical workstation, and connect the portable electrochemical workstation to the terminal computer for communication. S3: Set detection and stimulation parameters via terminal computer; S4: Apply a preset stimulus to the plant and start the portable electrochemical workstation to collect the surface potential signal of the plant; S5: The terminal computer receives and processes signals to achieve real-time display, storage, and analysis of data.

[0017] Preferably, in step S1, a metal wire electrode of the appropriate material is selected based on whether the detection part is a stem or a leaf.

[0018] Preferably, the stimulus in step S4 is one of fire stimulation or damage shear stimulation, and the stimulation parameters include stimulation time, stimulation distance, and stimulation interval.

[0019] More preferably, the detection method includes the following steps: Electrode selection and fixation: Select the appropriate electrode material combination and electrode wire fixing parts according to the detection part (stem / leaf), and fix the detection electrode assembly to the plant detection part stably with the fixing parts; Device connection: Connect the reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode to the signal acquisition interface of the portable electrochemical workstation via shielded conductive wires, and complete the communication pairing between the portable electrochemical workstation and the terminal computer via a communication data cable; Parameter settings: In the dedicated data processing software on the terminal computer, set the sampling interval, running time, and the time and interval of external stimuli for the electrochemical workstation; Signal acquisition: Apply a preset type of external stimulus to the plant, start the portable electrochemical workstation, and begin to acquire the surface potential signal of the plant. After preliminary processing of the signal, the workstation transmits it to the terminal computer. Data processing and analysis: The terminal computer plots the potential-time change curve in real time, automatically extracts the signal peak value, and allows the experimenter to observe, compare, store and export the detection data in real time.

[0020] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages: 1. This invention creatively employs an open-circuit electrochemical method to monitor plant surface potential, replacing the traditional and expensive patch-clamp detection method. It breaks through the dependence of existing plant electrophysiological monitoring on expensive specialized equipment from the perspective of detection principle, fills the application gap of open-circuit electrochemical technology in the field monitoring of plant surface potential, and provides a brand-new technical path for plant electrophysiological research.

[0021] 2. This invention uses a low-cost portable electrochemical workstation as the core detection component, which significantly reduces the overall cost of the equipment and the cost of experimental input compared with traditional patch clamp equipment. This enables plant electrophysiological monitoring technology to move out of professional laboratories and achieve widespread and large-scale application by different entities such as research institutions and agricultural production units.

[0022] 3. The detection electrode assembly, portable electrochemical workstation, and terminal computer of this invention are all portable components. The modular design allows for rapid assembly and disassembly, making them easy to carry and operate in the field or outdoors in natural plant growth environments. For the first time, it realizes real-time and dynamic field monitoring of plant surface potential, solving the technical problem of traditional patch clamp equipment being large and unable to be used for on-site testing. This makes plant electrophysiological monitoring more in line with the actual growth state of plants, and the detection data has more practical reference value.

[0023] 4. The detection electrode assembly offers various material combinations such as platinum-platinum, platinum-silver, and silver-silver, suitable for detecting the surface potential of plant stems and leaves. It can also monitor the potential response under various external stimuli such as fire stimulation and damage shear stimulation, comprehensively capturing the potential change patterns of plants under different growth states and environmental stimuli, providing comprehensive and accurate experimental data for exploring physiological mechanisms such as plant nutrient absorption, stress resistance establishment, and signal transduction. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the connection and working status of the plant stem surface potential detection system. Figure 1 A is a schematic diagram of the overall electrophysiological signal acquisition device for tomato stems, as well as the clamping method of the reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode counter electrode assembly. Figure 1 B represents the connection method of the electrode assembly on the tomato stem; Figure 1 C represents the potential response curve of tomato stems under high temperature stress; Figure 1 D represents the potential response curve of tomato stems under mechanical damage stress (time range 0-1000 seconds).

[0025] Figure 2. Schematic diagram of the connection and working status of the plant leaf surface potential detection system. Figure 2 A is a schematic diagram of the overall electrophysiological signal acquisition device for tomato leaves, as well as the clamping method of the reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode counter electrode assembly. Figure 2 B represents the method of connecting the electrode assembly to the tomato leaf for measurement. Figure 2 C represents the potential response curve of tomato leaves under high temperature stress; Figure 2 D represents the potential response curve of tomato leaves under mechanical damage stress (time range 0-800 seconds). Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments.

[0027] Figure 1This diagram illustrates the connection relationships, assembly methods, and actual working state of the components when using this device to detect the surface potential of plant stems. The reference electrode and counter electrode of the detection electrode assembly are clamped on the copper conductive tape of the same electrode assembly, while the working electrode is clamped on the copper conductive tape of another electrode assembly. The bottom of the electrode assemblies is wrapped around the outer surface of the plant stem to ensure tight contact between the two electrode assemblies and the stem surface, and to maintain a fixed electrode spacing, thus avoiding distortion of the surface potential signal caused by electrode misalignment or poor contact during the detection process. The terminals of the reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode are all connected to the portable electrochemical workstation via shielded conductive wires. The electrical connection of the acquisition interface ensures the authenticity and validity of the acquired surface potential signal. The portable electrochemical workstation achieves bidirectional communication with the terminal computer via a communication data cable. Signal transmission direction: The workstation amplifies, filters, and converts the analog signal of the plant stem surface potential acquired by the detection electrode assembly, then transmits the digitized signal to the terminal computer via the communication data cable. Command transmission direction: The terminal computer sets detection parameters to the portable electrochemical workstation via software, enabling control of the detection process. During detection, the portable electrochemical workstation and terminal computer can be placed on a support platform at the testing site or operated by hand, adapting to the actual needs of outdoor field testing.

[0028] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the connection relationships, assembly methods, and actual working state of the components when using this device to detect the surface potential of plant leaves. The reference electrode and counter electrode of the detection electrode assembly are arranged side-by-side and clamped onto the copper conductive tape of the same electrode assembly. The working electrode is clamped onto the copper conductive tape of another electrode assembly. By gently pressing the bottom of the electrode assembly against the leaf surface of the plant being tested, excessive pressure is avoided to prevent mechanical damage to the leaf and to prevent additional damage from interfering with the accurate detection results of the plant's surface potential. The distance between the two electrode assemblies can be flexibly adjusted according to the leaf width. The reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode are also electrically connected to the portable electrochemical workstation via shielded conductive wires. The portable electrochemical workstation communicates bidirectionally with the terminal computer via a communication data line. The signal and command transmission logic is completely consistent with that of the stem detection shown in the diagram. During detection, the plant leaves can remain in their naturally growing state without being harvested, ensuring that the detected surface potential signal is the true physiological response of the living plant.

[0029] Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this device, the portable electrochemical workstation, communication data cable, and terminal computer are common components that can be used together in the detection of surface potential of plant stems and leaves. The detection electrode assembly can be flexibly replaced with platinum-platinum, platinum-silver, or silver-silver material combinations according to the detection requirements, so that a single device can complete the detection of surface potential of different parts of the plant and different detection requirements, thereby improving the utilization rate and detection efficiency of the device.

[0030] Example 1: Surface potential detection of plant stems under fire stimulation 1. Electrode selection and fixation As shown in Figure 1A, this embodiment uses an electrode assembly made of platinum-silver wire, including a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a working electrode. Figure 1 As shown in Figure B, the electrode assembly is assembled and fixed using a fastener: the end of the electrode assembly is tightly wrapped around and attached to the outer surface of the stem of the tomato plant to be tested, ensuring that the electrode and the stem surface have no gap contact and the position is stable; as shown in Figure 1A, the electrode assembly and the plant stem are precisely clamped by the fixing clamp, realizing non-invasive signal contact and ensuring the accuracy of subsequent potential detection.

[0031] 2. Device Connection As shown in Figure 1A, the reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode are connected one-to-one to the signal acquisition interface of the portable electrochemical workstation via shielded conductive wires. The shielded wires can effectively isolate environmental electromagnetic interference and improve the transmission quality of weak electrical signals. Subsequently, a communication data cable is used to pair the portable electrochemical workstation with a portable laptop computer to establish a signal transmission channel, laying the foundation for subsequent real-time data transmission and processing.

[0032] 3. Parameter Settings Configure the parameters in the dedicated data processing software for the electrochemical workstation on the terminal computer: Electrochemical workstation sampling parameters: The sampling interval is set to 0.1s, and the total detection time is 1500s to ensure high-frequency and continuous acquisition of plant potential changes during fire stimulation; Fire stimulation parameters: The stimulation time was set to 1 second, the stimulation distance to 1 cm, and the stimulation interval to 200 seconds to simulate the stimulation rhythm under real fire stress scenarios and to achieve repeated stimulation to verify the repeatability of plant electrical potential response.

[0033] 4. Signal Acquisition The fire stimulation device is activated according to preset parameters to apply fire stimulation to the stems of tomato plants; simultaneously, the portable electrochemical workstation is activated, which collects the surface potential signal of the plant stems in real time through the electrode assembly; after amplification, filtering and conversion processing by the internal module of the workstation, the digitized electrical signal is transmitted to the terminal computer in real time through the communication data line, ensuring the stability and real-time performance of the signal transmission throughout the process.

[0034] 5. Data Processing The dedicated software of the electrochemical workstation on the terminal computer receives digital signals in real time and simultaneously plots the potential-time change curve of the plant stem surface (corresponding to the potential fluctuation trend in Figure 1C); the software automatically extracts the peak data of the plant potential response after each fire stimulus, and stores all detection data (including potential curves, peak parameters, stimulus timing, etc.) to the computer's local hard drive.

[0035] Researchers can view the fluctuation pattern of the potential curve in real time through the software interface (such as the periodic potential spikes induced by high temperature in Figure 1C) and complete preliminary comparison and analysis. After the detection is completed, all detection data can be exported for subsequent statistical analysis, mechanism research and other in-depth scientific research.

[0036] Example 2 Detection of surface potential under shear stress of plant leaf damage 1. Electrode selection and fixation: Use an electrode assembly made of platinum wire-platinum wire combination. The reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode are lightly pressed and attached to the leaf surface of the plant to be tested using a fixing device. The electrode ends are rounded to avoid damaging the leaf. 2. Device Connection: Same as in Example 1, complete the connection and communication pairing of the detection electrode assembly, portable electrochemical workstation and portable laptop; 3. Parameter settings: In the dedicated data processing software on the terminal computer, set the sampling interval of the portable electrochemical workstation to 0.1s, the detection running time to 1500s, and the interval of damage shear stimulation to 180s. 4. Signal acquisition: Apply damage shear stimulation to the plant leaves according to preset parameters, start the portable electrochemical workstation to acquire surface potential signals, and the workstation transmits the processed digital signals to the terminal computer in real time. 5. Data Processing: Dedicated software on the terminal computer plots the surface potential-time change curve of plant leaves in real time, automatically extracts the double peaks (touch peak and shear peak) of the potential response after damage and shear stimulation, records the peak change pattern, and simultaneously completes the storage and comparison of multiple sets of detection data, providing accurate data for exploring the surface potential response mechanism of plant leaves to damage stimulation.

Claims

1. A portable plant surface potential detection device, characterized in that, It includes a detection electrode assembly, a portable electrochemical workstation, and a terminal computer; the detection electrode assembly and the portable electrochemical workstation are electrically connected via conductive wires, and the portable electrochemical workstation and the terminal computer are bidirectionally connected via a communication data line.

2. The portable plant surface potential detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection electrode assembly includes a reference electrode, a counter electrode, a working electrode, and a fixing member for fixing each electrode to the plant surface. The reference electrode, counter electrode, and working electrode are metal wire electrodes.

3. The portable plant surface potential detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The metal wire electrode is made of platinum wire-platinum wire, platinum wire-silver wire, or silver wire-silver wire.

4. The portable plant surface potential detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sampling interval and detection run time of the portable electrochemical workstation can be flexibly set via a terminal computer, with a minimum sampling interval of 0.1s.

5. The portable plant surface potential detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive wire is a shielded wire.

6. The portable plant surface potential detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal computer has built-in dedicated data processing software for electrochemical workstations.

7. The portable plant surface potential detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device is adapted for surface potential detection under plant fire stimulation and damage shear stimulation.

8. The portable plant surface potential detection device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The fire stimulation time is 0.9~1.1s, the distance is 0.9~1.1cm, and the stimulation interval is 150s~200s.

9. A portable method for detecting plant surface potential using the device described in claim 1, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Securely attach the detection electrode assembly to the plant detection site using a fastener; S2: Connect the detection electrode assembly to the portable electrochemical workstation, and connect the portable electrochemical workstation to the terminal computer for communication. S3: Set detection and stimulation parameters via terminal computer; S4: Apply a preset stimulus to the plant and start the portable electrochemical workstation to collect the surface potential signal of the plant; S5: The terminal computer receives and processes signals to achieve real-time display, storage, and analysis of data.

10. The detection method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The stimulus in step S4 is either fire stimulation or injury shear stimulation, and the stimulation parameters include stimulation time, stimulation distance, and stimulation interval.

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