Live Challenges
Long-duration electrodes for stable plant electrophysiology
"Sustained electrophysiological monitoring throughout the plant lifecycle is essential for capturing the dynamic continuum of stress responses. Current electrode instability during active growth phases of some crops creates critical blind spots in our understanding."
Jurrian Friedrich, Plant Scientist in Research Biology, Syngenta Crop Protection
Background
Syngenta is seeking novel electrode technologies and application methods that overcome the current challenge of electrodes becoming unstable during plant growth in some crops. This is caused e.g. by differential growth between inner and outer layers of plant tissues during the growth period (intercalary growth) of specific monocots.
Syngenta scientists are therefore looking for robust electrode concepts and/or improved attachment/application systems that can maintain stable recordings for extended periods without compromising signal fidelity or creating sustained tissue damage. Applicable innovations may include improvements to electrode materials, form factor, micro-scale electrode designs, wearable/tattoo concepts, or other approaches that allow long-duration electrode attachment. The primary interest is in electrode and interface innovation rather than a complete package including new data platforms/analytics.
Plant electrophysiology (EPE) relies on electrode-based recordings of plant electrical potentials to track physiological responses to changing environmental conditions. However, due to intercalary growth in some monocots (rapid elongation occurring within the stem between outer tissue segments), electrodes can lose stable positioning and consistent tissue contact over time, resulting in signal degradation and signal loss.
Syngenta is looking to collaborate with suppliers, researchers, universities, and R&D partners across industries.
Click here to view our partner challenge on Ion-selective electrodes for enhanced signal differentiation
- Reduce risk of electrode dislodgement to maintain stable, high-resolution (1 second) electrical signal capture for a minimum of 2 months in actively growing crops
- Demonstrate proof-of-concept or validation data (in plants or transferable electrophysiology domains)
- Be deployable in greenhouse and/or field (e.g., weather, moisture, plant fluids)
- Wired solutions compatible with standard connectors (e.g., audio jack) are desirable
- Include practical deployment concepts (easy installation, repeatable placement, compatibility with farm-scale trials)
- Maintain electrode proximity to the physiological electrical signal source (high fidelity / minimal attenuation)
- Offer options for lighter/thinner electrodes, micro-needles, surface electrodes with conductive gel, plant tattoos, etc., provided signal resolution remains high
- Are scalable and manufacturable (late prototype / near-deployable electrode manufacturing)
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