Tracing Plant fever
The Problem
As the challenge conservation x states, two newly discovered invasive fungal pathogens are killing hundreds of thousands of ʻŌhiʻa trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) on Hawaii island. Hundreds of thousands of trees have been wiped out by the fungi, which chokes the water veins within the tree until the tree withers and dies. This result in low water in the body of Ohi'a tree. First, let’s look at photosynthesis. Water + Carbon Dioxide = Plant Material + Oxygen. You probably knew that already. Plants need water to make oxygen. But there’s more—a lot more. It turns out that only ten percent of the water that’s sucked up by a plant’s roots is used for photosynthesis. The rest is used for transpiration. Through transpiration, water evaporates from the undersides of leaves and is drawn up from the roots. This process cools the leaves, exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide, and moves nutrients up the tree. No water in the tree = no cooling of the leaves= lower temperature on body, tip and leaves All tree leaves have 'thermostat' that maintains temperature but it is meaningless if there is no water to regulate it. The conversion of light into chemical energy - photosynthesis - most likely occurs when leaf temperatures are about 21°C, and the outside temperature plays little, if any, role. This means that in colder climates leaf temperatures are elevated and in warmer climates tree leaves cool to keep the temperature just right.
Our Proposal
It is known that the ROD fungus attacks the Ohi’a tree by chocking the water transport resulting in the tree to become dry until it dies. Meaning lower water on the Ohi'a tree means no regulation of temperature. By doing statistics on the temperature of the average ohia tree have during all season, we can get an early warning system when we measure infected ohia tree showing different temperature reading. Sick plants are like sick children. They get hot and feverish when they don't feel well. the University of California's Professor C. E. Yarwood told how he put leaves of healthy plants in a well-insulated container and measured their temperature after four hours. He found that the respiration of the leaves (their "breathing" of oxygen) had raised their temperature at most 2.7° F. above the outside air. Then he put sick leaves, infected with virus or fungus diseases, in the chamber. In four hours they were running temperatures up to 6.3° F. (http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,821722,00.html) We can use temperature Sensors to read the fever or temperature difference of the Ohia tree. Temperature Sensors is a sensor that detects heat, changes this into an electrical signal, and then is converted to a temperature readout. https://www.te.com/usa-en/products/sensors/temperature-sensors.html) This will definitely work becasue secientists already proved it and it is very cost wise.
We Assume that...
I am assuming that ROD fungus infected Ohia tree have lower water content leading to poor temperature regulation.
I am assuming that the behaviour of Ohi'a tree is no different than other trees.
Constraints to Overcome
Detection of the ROD involves sample collection and then lab analysis which takes too much time and effort and after the analysis, the ROD may not be found. This project tells us from which tree to take samples, which tree needs supervision and possible diagnosis of the tree before the lab report. Ohi’a tree which has temperature reading outside the range of normal temperature reading during a specific season has a higher possibility of having the RODhe ROD. This indication can speed up the detection of the ROD and add more information to the lab analysis which increases the diagnosis efficiency. The total average cost per tree is 57.00 USD. If we test 100 trees to collect samples from all the 100 trees and test it in the lab, the total average cost per 100 trees becomes 5,700.00 USD. Keep in mind that the lab test may show that 1 tree have ROD fungi if not any. This project tells us from which tree to take samples saving about 5,640.00 USD at best in this scenario.
Current Work
This solution is very tangible and realistic because it connects two known and proved science facts together in a very simple way. According to references like I mentioned above, the temperature of trees varies more than it should be when they are sick or when they do not have enough water in their system. It is a known fact that temperature sensors are the most effective temperature measuring devices the current technology can offer. So, combining those will create a new method to detect the ROD fungus at an early level. The solution does not have any negative impact on the tree. The solution can be used at any time the client wishes to use or test because there are many options for temperature sensor devices on the market. All required is purchasing one and test on the Ohi’a tree carefully in an infected and healthy tree. If the temperature is found to be variable, we have our successful prototype.
Current Needs
I need collaboration and funding to test the idea.