CAREER: Horticulture-on-a-chip: an innovative Bio-MEMS device to study interactions between roots and the root zone

园艺芯片：本研究的目的是开发一种具有上级监测植物根系与根区环境之间相互作用能力的新型植物根系微系统。 该方法是基于新颖的三维微传感器阵列。 电化学电极和光波导的垂直微阵列开发新的干膜光刻胶层压和电镀工艺。 微传感器阵列与微型植物生长系统集成，监测根区氧分布。智能化优点：植物根系与周围介质之间的相互作用是植物研究中最不了解和最具挑战性的方面。 新的微系统有望为根系研究的几乎所有方面提供一种新的工具，包括代谢工程，植物胁迫生理学和植物病理学。 前所未有的使用新的微系统根区监测将提供一个重大的技术突破，为未来的根研究工作，从而扩大微系统技术的应用领域，植物和农业科学与工程。 更广泛的影响：在没有农业技术改进的情况下扩大耕作面积会导致作物产量低和土地污染。 这一挑战的解决方案只能来自更好地了解植物根系，这可以通过使用微系统技术来加速。 该项目涉及与一个少数民族服务机构开展合作活动，开发根监测微型系统，以加快多样性的参与。 这种微系统教育的努力，强调植物和农业应用将创造新一代的劳动力，精通微系统和农业工程。

Horticulture-on-a-chip: an Innovative Bio-MEMS Device to Study Interactions between Roots and the Root ZoneThe objective of this research is to develop an innovative plant root microsystem with a superior capability of monitoring interactions between the plant roots and the immediate root zone environment. The approach is based on novel three-dimensional microsensor arrays. Vertical microarrays of electrochemical electrodes and optical waveguides are developed by new dryfilm photoresist lamination and electroplating processes. The microsensor arrays are integrated with a miniature plant growth system to monitor root zone oxygen distribution.Intellecyual merit: The interactions between the plant roots and the surrounding media are the least understood and most challenging aspect of plant research. The new microsystem is expected to provide a novel tool for nearly all aspects of root research including metabolic engineering, plant stress physiology, and plant pathology. An unprecedented use of the new microsystem to root zone monitoring will provide a major technological breakthrough for future root research efforts, thus expanding the application area of the microsystem technology to plant and agricultural science and engineering. Broader Impact: Expanding farming area without improvements of agricultural technology results in low crop yields and land pollution. Solutions to this challenge can only come from a better understanding of the plant root system, which can be expedited through the use of microsystem technology. This project involves a collaboration activity with a minority serving institution to develop root monitoring microsystems to expedite the participation of diversity. This microsystem education effort with an emphasis on plant and agricultural applications will create a new generation of workforce, proficient both in microsystems and agricultural engineering.