Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Update on Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants

Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a non-destructive analytical technique that characterizes the electrical properties of materials across a broad frequency range. By simultaneously measuring the magnitude and phase of the impedance, EIS enables the determination of resistive, capacitive, and diffusive components, which correspond to intrinsic physical, chemical, and biological processes. EIS has gained increasing attention as a promising tool for soil monitoring, assessment of plant physiological status, and quality evaluation of fruits and vegetables. Plants are often exposed to hostile environments, which have negative impact on their growth and development. As a result, plants have evolved defense mechanisms, which help maintain their metabolism and preserve homeostasis. This review outlines EIS current applications in the investigation of plant responses to abiotic stress. The basic principles of EIS, the processes underlying impedance analysis, data interpretation, and modeling strategies are discussed, while addressing challenges such as environmental variability and heterogeneity of biological samples. By presenting a comprehensive overview, this article highlights the potential of EIS as a tool for monitoring stress-associated physiological changes thereby supporting the development of enhanced sustainable agricultural practices. Finally, future perspectives are considered, including the integration of EIS with smart agriculture technologies, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and machine learning methods to enable real-time decision support.