Plant Electrophysiology: The Hidden Electrical Language of Plants and Its Applications in Smart Agriculture

Plants possess a remarkable ability to perceive and respond to environmental changes through complex bioelectrical communication systems. Plant electrophysiology explores the generation, transmission, and interpretation of electrical signals produced by ion movement, membrane potential variations, and electrochemical gradients. These signals regulate essential physiological processes including growth, photosynthesis, defense responses, and adaptation to environmental stresses. Recent advances in biophysics, nanotechnology, sensor engineering, and artificial intelligence have revealed the potential of plant electrical signals as valuable indicators for real-time crop monitoring. This review discusses the fundamental mechanisms of plant electrical signaling, including action potentials, variation potentials, and long-distance electrical communication. Furthermore, emerging applications of plant electrophysiology in smart agriculture, precision farming, and stress prediction are highlighted. A novel conceptual framework, the Plant Electrical Intelligence Network (PEIN), is proposed to integrate electrical signatures with digital technologies for autonomous crop management. Understanding the hidden electrical language of plants may provide innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture, early stress detection, and climate-resilient crop production.