Micro-scale plant vascular sensor for monitoring of sap dynamics and nutrients dynamics in plant shoots

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H03545
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nano/Microsystems
• Research Institution: Kagawa University
• Principal Investigator: Shimokawa Fusao 香川大学, 創造工学部, 教授 (90580598)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高尾 英邦 香川大学, 工学部, 教授 (40314091) ; 小林 剛 香川大学, 農学部, 准教授 (70346633)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: IOT / スマ－ト農業 / センサシステム / 水分動態センサ / 栄養物質動態センサ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We newly proposed the microscale xylem-sap-dynamics (flow velocity) sensor that uses the measuring principle of the Granier method. We also fabricated micro-sensor chips for functional verification by using MEMS technology, and assembled them on a resin film for mounting on the epidermis of plants. Furthermore, we measured the sap dynamics by using a mimicked plant experimental setup and actual plant, and succeeded in measuring the flow velocity(0-500μm/s). We also proposed the microscale phloem-sap-dynamics (flow velocity and direction) sensor, and confirmed the possibility of sap dynamic measurement in the actual plant shoots. We demonstrated the feasibility of a novel nutrients dynamics sensor that can conveniently identify the phloem positions and extract pure photosynthates samples in agricultural situations.

Free Research Field

マイクロ・ナノデバイス