Microbe Sensor Plants for Precision Agricultural Stressor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural practices lack effective methods to identify and manage stressors in the field using microbe sensors, which are crucial for optimizing crop health and yield.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing genetically modified microbe sensors and sensor plants that generate detectable signals in response to stressors, coupled with a computer system to interpret these signals and generate prompts for mitigation actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If microbe sensors are deployed to detect stressors in agricultural fields, then measurement precision of stressor detection is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for genetically modified microbe sensors and sensor plants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sensor plants as an intermediary between microbe sensors and the final detection system. The microbe sensors (genetically modified to express reporter genes) colonize the sensor plants, and when stressors are detected, the reporter genes are expressed and can be detected through imaging. This intermediary approach allows complex microbial sensing to be translated into detectable plant-level signals that can be imaged non-invasively, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Productivity
If real-time stressor detection is implemented using microbe sensors, then productivity of crop management is improved, but loss of time for system deployment and calibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-colonizing sensor plants with microbe sensors before deployment to the field. The sensor plants are prepared in advance with the genetically modified microbes already established in their root systems or associated environments. This preliminary preparation allows the system to be deployed rapidly to multiple fields without requiring time-consuming on-site calibration or microbial colonization processes, thus improving productivity while minimizing time loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of stressors are monitored simultaneously, then adaptability of the agricultural monitoring system is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensor types and reporter models
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality through the use of a standardized imaging-based detection platform that can detect multiple different stressors. The system uses a common sensor plant-microbe-reporter framework where different genetically modified microbes (each with specific promoter-reporter gene combinations for different stressors like drought, salinity, nutrients) are deployed on the same type of sensor plant. The universal imaging system captures signals from all stressor types simultaneously, allowing the system to monitor multiple stressors without requiring separate detection systems for each, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity through standardization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise identification and management of various stressors, improving crop health and yield by providing real-time alerts and targeted interventions based on microbe sensor data.
Implementation Method 1
a first reporter model, in a set of reporter models, linking plant-reporter signals, expressed by sensor plants of the sensor plant type, to pressures of the set of stressors in regions inhabited by microbe sensors of the first microbe type
Data Source
AI summary
One variation of a method includes accessing an image of a plant canopy in an environment inhabited by: a population of microbe sensors of a microbe type including a microbe promoter-reporter pair configured to generate microbe-reporter signals representing presence of a stressor in the environment; and a set of sensor plants of a sensor plant type including a plant promoter-reporter pair configured to signal presence of microbe-reporter signals at the set of sensor plants. The method further includes: accessing a reporter model linking features extracted from images of sensor plants of the sensor plant type to pressures of the set of stressors based on plant-reporter signals generated by the plant promoter-reporter pair and microbe types of microbe sensors inhabiting the environment; and interpreting a pressure of the stressor in the environment based on the reporter model, the microbe type, and features extracted from the image.