Advances in plant electrostimulation: from cellular and molecular mechanisms to agricultural applications.
6 affiliations
- 1College of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, People's Republic of China.
- 2Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- 3New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand.
- 4College of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, People's Republic of China.
- 5College of Agronomy, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, People's Republic of China.
- 6School of Agriculture and Environment, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
Abstract
Electrical stimulation is an emerging physical strategy for agricultural regulation that applies electric fields or currents with defined parameters to modulate plant growth, development, and rhizosphere processes. Owing to its residue-free nature, environmental compatibility, and high controllability, electrical stimulation has considerable potential to improve crop yield and quality while enhancing tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, making it increasingly relevant to sustainable agriculture. This review critically synthesizes the mechanisms and applications of electrical stimulation across cellular and molecular, physiological and metabolic, whole-plant, and field scales. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing continuous or quasi-continuous stimulation from high-voltage pulsed treatments, which differ in membrane-level mechanisms, reversibility, and safety profiles. Three interrelated factors are identified as central to its effectiveness: regulation of membrane potential and ion transport, root-targeted modulation of plant-soil interactions, and context-dependent matching of stimulation parameters with specific biological responses. We further highlight that translating laboratory-scale benefits into reliable field applications will require intelligent delivery systems capable of stable, scalable, energy-efficient, and feedback-controlled operation under variable environmental conditions. Future research should prioritize multiscale investigation of molecular mechanisms, standardized evaluation of stimulation parameters, development of smart and synergistic regulation platforms, and validation across diverse crops, soils, and production systems. These advances will facilitate the practical deployment of electrical stimulation technologies and support their integration into sustainable and precision agriculture.
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BibTeX
@article{dong2026advances,
title = {{Advances in plant electrostimulation: from cellular and molecular mechanisms to agricultural applications.}},
author = {Yu Dong and Ye Tian and Jingxuan Pan and Weiwen Qiu and Xinyu Zhou and Yangyang Xie and Mei Liu and Juntao Wang and Fengru Gao and Liang Jin and Dan Wei and Yanhong Wang and Qiang Xiao},
journal = {Plant signaling \& behavior},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/15592324.2026.2740676},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42841780},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Advances in plant electrostimulation: from cellular and molecular mechanisms to agricultural applications.
AU - Yu Dong
AU - Ye Tian
AU - Jingxuan Pan
AU - Weiwen Qiu
AU - Xinyu Zhou
AU - Yangyang Xie
AU - Mei Liu
AU - Juntao Wang
AU - Fengru Gao
AU - Liang Jin
AU - Dan Wei
AU - Yanhong Wang
AU - Qiang Xiao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Plant signaling & behavior
DO - 10.1080/15592324.2026.2740676
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42841780
AB - Electrical stimulation is an emerging physical strategy for agricultural regulation that applies electric fields or currents with defined parameters to modulate plant growth, development, and rhizosphere processes. Owing to its residue-free nature, environmental compatibility, and high controllability, electrical stimulation has considerable potential to improve crop yield and quality while enhancing tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, making it increasingly relevant to sustainable agriculture. This review critically synthesizes the mechanisms and applications of electrical stimulation across cellular and molecular, physiological and metabolic, whole-plant, and field scales. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing continuous or quasi-continuous stimulation from high-voltage pulsed treatments, which differ in membrane-level mechanisms, reversibility, and safety profiles. Three interrelated factors are identified as central to its effectiveness: regulation of membrane potential and ion transport, root-targeted modulation of plant-soil interactions, and context-dependent matching of stimulation parameters with specific biological responses. We further highlight that translating laboratory-scale benefits into reliable field applications will require intelligent delivery systems capable of stable, scalable, energy-efficient, and feedback-controlled operation under variable environmental conditions. Future research should prioritize multiscale investigation of molecular mechanisms, standardized evaluation of stimulation parameters, development of smart and synergistic regulation platforms, and validation across diverse crops, soils, and production systems. These advances will facilitate the practical deployment of electrical stimulation technologies and support their integration into sustainable and precision agriculture.
SN - 1559-2316
SN - 1559-2324
ER -