初创公司正在设计植物，当病虫害发生时会发光或变紫，使农民能够快速行动而无需广泛使用化学品Insignum AgTech 种植的玉米叶片出现紫色斑点，警示真菌病正在感染植株InsignumAgTech 想象一下：当植物受到昆虫或病害攻击时，是否能通过发光或叶片变紫等方式发出早期预警信号？
Startups are designing plants that glow or turn purple when disease or pests strike, empowering farmers to act quickly without widespread chemical use Corn grown by Insignum AgTech shows purple markings on its leaves warning of fungal disease infecting the plants. InsignumAgTech What if a plant facing attack from insects or disease could send out an early-warning signal by, say, emitting a glow or turning its leaves purple?
一些初创公司正利用基因编辑和传感器实现这一目标，编程让植物在出现可见症状之前就“告诉”农民它们正处于压力之下。
A handful of startups are using gene editing and sensors to do just that, programming plants to “tell” farmers when they are under stress before visible symptoms appear.