A Bio-Mimetic Leaf Wetness Sensor from Replica Molding of Leaves

Plant diseases cause hundreds of billions of dollars in global crop production each year. Many plant diseases develop when pathogens germinate and proliferate in the fertile environment of excess water on the leaf surfaces. Accurate measurement of how long a leaf stays wet is important to assess the risk of pathogen infestation and decide on appropriate management tactics. Commercial leaf wetness sensors estimate the duration of leaf wetness by monitoring the water accumulated on the sensor surface. However, this one-size-fits-all sensor surface does not replicate the wetting behavior of specific leaves resulting in an imprecise measurement of leaf wetness. Here it is developed a leaf wetness sensor with replica molded surfaces that closely mimic the leaf of interest and provide a more accurate measurement of leaf wetness duration compared to commercial sensors. This simple approach allows for better prediction of leaf wetness duration for each plant species, affording individualized and more effective disease forecasting for the management of plant diseases. Accurate measurement of leaf wetness duration is essential for predicting the risk of plant disease. Here, a novel leaf wetness sensor with a biomimetic leaf replica surface that more accurately predicts leaf wetness across plant species is developed. image