Plant-on-a-chip: continuous, soilless electrochemical monitoring of salt uptake and tolerance among different genotypes of tomato

Summary

Abstract Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), a high-value crop, exhibit a unique relationship with salt, where increased levels of NaCl can enhance flavor, aroma and nutritional quality but can cause oxidative damage and reduce yields. A drive for larger, better-looking tomatoes has reduced the importance of salt sensitivity, a concern considering that the sodium content of agricultural land is increasing over time. Currently, there are no simple ways of comparing salt tolerance between plants, where a holistic approach looking at [Na +] throughout the plant typically involves destructive, single time point measurements or expensive imaging techniques. Finding methods that collect rapid information in real time could improve the understanding of salt resistance in the field. Here we investiga