How Plants can alert people to danger?

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a protein called abscisic acid (ABA) that enables plants to detect and respond to harmful chemicals in the environment.

Drought causes plants to produce ABA, which can be recognized and responded to by additional proteins. This leads to plant closure, reducing water evaporation and reducing wilting. Researchers have shown that ABA receptor proteins can bind to other chemicals, causing plants to turn red upon binding.

The team demonstrated using azinphos-ethyl, a toxic pesticide, and transforming yeast into a sensor. They showed yeast reacting to two different chemicals simultaneously, a feat not yet possible in plants. This was done using a pesticide banned in many countries.

Scientists are aiming to develop a universal plant capable of detecting and alerting people to up to 100 banned pesticides.