The Japanese Society of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Engineers and Scientists has been leading research guided by the Speaking Plant Approach (SPA) (Hashimoto, 1989), which means that plant eco-physiological information is obtained using sensing technologies and cultivation environment is optimally controlled on the basis of these diagnostic results. These technologies should be core factors driving realization of data-driven smart agriculture. Based on this viewpoint, we, Biological Measurement Subcommittee, planned this special issue “Sensing Technologies of Plant Ecophysiological Information Contributing to Data-driven Smart Agriculture.” One opinion paper, three original research papers, and one short communication have been published herein. The contents are as follows:
Kitano et al. (2022) propose the original concept of an Internet of Plants (IoP), and provide a valuable opinion on agricultural innovation through visualization, utilization, and sharing of plant eco-physiological information. Fujiuchi et al. (2022) focus on real-time monitoring of photosynthesis and transpiration of whole plants, which can be regarded as the most important eco-physiological information, and examine new calculation methods for improved accuracy. Nurmalisa et al. (2022) also focus on improving accuracy of a photosynthetic measurement chamber method, where they also analyze and improve distribution of airflow in the chamber. Ono et al. (2022) focus on respiration of fruits as important eco-physiological information, and develop a new closed chamber system for easily measuring respiration rate of intact fruits. Yasutake et al. (2022) focus on the carbon partitioning characteristics in a plant body, as an eco-physiological correlate of plant growth, and show these characteristics' dependence on leaf growth stage.
We hope that this special issue will provide the readers with broad insights into this research field. Finally, we would like to thank all authors who submitted their works to this special issue.
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