Leveraging plant physiological dynamics using physical reservoir computing

Abstract

Plants are complex organisms subject to variable environmental conditions, which influence their physiology and phenotype dynamically. We propose to interpret plants as reservoirs in physical reservoir computing. The physical reservoir computing paradigm originates from computer science; instead of relying on Boolean circuits to perform computations, any substrate that exhibits complex non-linear and temporal dynamics can serve as a computing element. Here, we present the first application of physical reservoir computing with plants. In addition to investigating classical benchmark tasks, we show that Fragaria × ananassa (strawberry) plants can solve environmental and eco-physiological tasks using only eight leaf thickness sensors. Although the results indicate that plants are not suitable for general-purpose computation but are well-suited for eco-physiological tasks such as photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate. Having the means to investigate the information processing by plants improves quantification and understanding of integrative plant responses to dynamic changes in their environment. This first demonstration of physical reservoir computing with plants is key for transitioning towards a holistic view of phenotyping and early stress detection in precision agriculture applications since physical reservoir computing enables us to analyse plant responses in a general way: environmental changes are processed by plants to optimise their phenotype.

In Liquido Computation with Electrochemical Transistors and Mixed Conductors for Intelligent Bioelectronics

“…[ 59 ] Such components can be used to communicate and better leverage the intrinsic computational capabilities of plant's physiological dynamics. [ 60 ] For example, in a hydra model, the ETE‐S was polymerizing during the foot regeneration at the amputation site forming a conducting layer simultaneously with the newly forming tissue. Although these devices required addressing with external electrodes and did not have a record performance, they open the pathway for a new paradigm on how technological components are integrated in living tissues.…”

In-Liquido Computation with Electrochemical Transistors and Mixed Conductors for Intelligent Bioelectronics

“…In plants, the tissue integrated OMIECs in combination with the natural electrolytic environment were used to demonstrate the possibility of utilizing the in-vivo organized OMIECs in devices [56]. Such components can be used to communicate and better leverage the intrinsic computational capabilities of plant's physiological dynamics [57]. For example, in a hydra model, the ETE-S was polymerizing during the foot regeneration at the amputation site forming a conducting layer simultaneously with the newly forming tissue.…”

Computational capability of ecological dynamics

“…Nakajima et al [ 11 , 12 ] have shown that such a soft robotic arm has a short-term memory and can be used to solve several computational tasks in real time. In addition, a recent study has shown that even biological entities such as plants may be used as a physical reservoir [ 13 ].…”