Articles

Plant-based biosensors have become an innovation for environmental monitoring. They combine the natural sensing abilities of the plant with modern synthetic biology and genetic engineering. These biosensors have the ability to detect stimuli (physical, chemical, biological) and convert them into measurable electrical, optical or biochemical signals. Recently, developments have been made in genetically encoded plant-based biosensors (GEBPs), protein engineering, and synthetic biological circuits which are resulting in improved sensitivity and versatility for monitoring environmental conditions and responses from plant stress. Applications of these biosensors include sustainable agriculture, environmental monitoring, and plant bioengineering. The challenges related to biosensor design, signal reliability, and large-scale deployment still remain. Future research should explore the intersection of synthetic biology, advanced receptor engineering and engineered living materials to develop more sensitive, adaptive plant-based biosensors for sustainable agriculture and real-time environmental monitoring.