A new branch of bio-engineering known as Plant nanobionics (also known as science of super-powered plants), inserts nanoparticles into the

living plant’s cells and choloroplasts, these then alter or amplify the functioning of plant tissue or organelle.

Exploitation of plants for nanobionic purposes is being done due to their ability to produce energy from sunlight and photosynthesis. Nanobionics makes plants more efficient in photosynthesising capability and powerful sensors can sense nanolevel biochemicals in an area.

Earlier plants that could detect explosives and could communicate this information to smartphone were designed. Nitroaromatics are toxic compounds found in industrial emissions and explosives that often seep into the ground and enter plant bodies. At the time of transpiration, these chemicals get accumulated in mesophylls — tissues present in the thick central part of leaves. Single-walled carbon nanotubes equipped with fluorescent nanosensors inside leaf mesophylls were implanted. When nitrogen dioxide, accumulated inside a leaf, a signal was emitted which in turn triggered a pre-programmed email alert.

Plants being quick to pick up and react to environmental changes, it is believed that plant nanobionics could be used to monitor the environment.

Also, plants were designed that could monitor drought conditions.

 Recently, spinach plants are fixed with sensors capable of sending emails to communicate about the toxic pollutants that accumulate inside plants. The plant is being programmed to send email on sensing (spinach roots can detect in ground water) toxic chemicals in the soil, a combination of carbon nanotubes and infrared cameras are used for the purpose.

Using similar technology, plants had earlier been programmed to take selfies by harvesting energy from photosynthesis.