What if we could talk with plants?

What if we knew about our plants necessities, sufferings or feelings, if they were infected or if they needed more water? Valencia_UPV iGEM team provides a whole new system that allows bidirectional communication with plants by controlling their physiology at both genetic and environmental level.  We present ChatterPlant, a Synthetic Biology based solution that works as an interface between plants and humans. Plant’s control is comprised by our designedoptogenetic circuit which is triggered by red/far-red light inducible switch. However, we generated a second communication channel through a Colour Code System, that allows plants to send us information about their current status. The genetic setup is complemented with a hardware device, ChatterBox, specially designed to control plant’s growth conditions. ChatterPlant’s possibilities can be improved gathering Plant SynBio knowledge. PlantLabCo is an open-access online platform which aims to unify Plant SynBio researchers’ work, with an online repository and a Matlab compatible tool. Managing and controlling plants we ensure season-less, accessible and local food production promoting a sustainable agriculture.   Speakers: Irene Martínez Soler; José Álvaro Ballesteros González; Eva María Gómez Álvarez; José Antonio Pérez García; Salvador Antón Bolaños, Fabián Robledo Yagües, Carlos Antequera Sánchez, Leandro Lecca Villacorta