Investigation of the use of calcium selective sensors to detect plant diseases

Stress emerges in relation to unfavorable environmental conditions or various organisms causes huge amounts of product loss every year. This situation makes obligatory to take necessary measures in time by detecting plant diseases early on. In this study, plant responses to stress factors and events leading to these responses are reviewed in tandem. During experimental studies, thin copper wires coated by graphite, plasticizer, and epoxy mixture were dipped into the membrane solution to obtain calcium-selective sensors. Calcium and reference electrodes, one for each, were inserted into the body of a cactus to be associated with xylem. These sensors were used to detect stress caused by either cold shock or high concentration NaCl solution by utilizing potentiometric method. Calcium levels of plants' xylem were monitored for 27-50 hours continously via a potentiometer. According to the results obtained in the study, calcium-selective sensors detected the changes in calcium levels which are considered to occur due to stress. However, it is also revealed the necessity for new studies on how to make best use of potentiometric method and calcium-selective sensors.