Bioengineers at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology have discovered that low voltage generated in the soil around plant roots can stimulate growth in mung bean and chickpea plants. By placing specific electrodes in the soil, the voltage is converted into a low current, which acts as a stimulus for plant growth by enhancing metabolic processes like photosynthesis. This method has the potential to be a sustainable option for agriculture and could also be used to remove pollutants from contaminated soil. The research findings also showed that the electrical stimulus increased the plants’ stress tolerance and resulted in changes in gene expression patterns.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-023-00162-5