An early warning system for poor crop health
Climate change is causing an increase in heatwaves, droughts and other extreme weather events which all threaten Europe’s crops. Plant stress is a significant concern, with poor plant health affecting agricultural productivity. Pest and disease outbreaks are also growing more common, further compounding the threats. This situation has considerable economic implications, as agriculture is essential for food security and livelihoods. Environmentally, plant stress diminishes biodiversity, reduces carbon sequestration and exacerbates soil erosion, thereby impacting ecosystem health. “Enhanced monitoring is vital for supporting EU initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture,” explains Panagiotis Nikolaou Moschou, associate professor in Molecular Plant Physiology at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas. Current plant monitoring methods, which often rely on observing changes in plant appearance, are unable to detect physiological stresses early enough to make corrective interventions. Collecting samples of damaged plants and analysing them in a lab can also be time-consuming. Researchers in the PANTHEON project, which was funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, developed a new method to monitor plant health, using remote sensing combined with spectroscopy – a technique that tracks changes in the electromagnetic spectrum. “Our project aims to revolutionise crop protection by enabling earlier detection of plant stress,” says Moschou.
New monitoring techniques
The team’s lab-based research has yielded promising targets for plant breeding, uncovering previously underappreciated small entities within plant cells that show a remarkable capacity for rapid response to environmental challenges. These comprise both proteins and RNAs, and exhibit specific responses to various stress conditions. “This significant discovery has not only advanced our understanding of plant stress response mechanisms but also been instrumental in securing further funding, including a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grant, enabling us to expand this critical research,” notes Moschou.
Training advanced researchers
The PANTHEON project also had an educational component, facilitating secondments between research organisations. The secondments offered researchers at an advanced stage in their careers exposure to diverse research settings. “These experiences proved instrumental in enhancing their future career prospects, with several participants subsequently securing positions abroad within the research sector,” remarks Moschou. The placements broadened the researchers’ scientific horizons and fostered international collaborations, while equipping them with the skills and networks necessary to thrive in a competitive global research landscape. “The programme’s success in launching researchers into international careers underscores its impact on developing highly skilled professionals in the field,” adds Moschou.
An early warning system to protect Europe’s future crops
The team is now working towards the development of an early warning system that picks up changes in plant health at the cellular level in the field. This will ultimately empower farmers and agricultural advisors to take timely action, including adjusting irrigation, applying targeted treatments, or implementing other preventative measures that will minimise the impact of stress on crop yields. “Ultimately, this proactive approach to crop management will contribute to greater food security and economic stability within the European agricultural sector,” says Moschou.
Keywords
PANTHEON, plant, health, monitoring, cells, early warning system, crops, training
