Feb 21 2011
A research study led by Dr. June Medford in the Department of Biology at Colorado State has revealed that potted plants change color when exposed to pollutants and explosives.
The plants respond to such environmental pollutants and hazards by altering the manner in which the chlorophyll reacts to sunlight.
Biosensors Help Plants Change Color in Presence of Explosives" />Colostate's Dr Medford
Although the plant alters color only after a day’s exposure, the changes can be remotely identified and monitored within hours with a spectral imaging solution that tracks the de-greening biosensors identified by the plants. The system was developed jointly with Professor Homme Hellinga at Duke University and Professor David Baker at the University of Washington. The laboratories developed receptors using computers that identify contaminants or explosives. These are then rebuilt to work in by directing them to the plant cell wall. This is the spot that the receptors identify the contaminants or explosives in the environment or soil around the plant, after which an internal signal turns the plant white in color.
The team is conducting further tests to accelerate this identification process so that volatile situations can be avoided. This research has been paid for by various US state departments such as DARPA, ONR, the Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program, the department of homeland security.