Danforth Center pioneers crops that show how they’re doing—by turning purple

What if crops could visibly report stress or unwanted chemicals in the field?

Researchers at the Danforth Plant Science Center are pioneering tools that make grasses like corn and sorghum produce a purple pigment in response to specific chemical cues, enabling plants to act as living biosensors. This groundbreaking work—published in Plant Biotechnology Journal—pairs synthetic biology with advanced imaging to non-destructively monitor chemical exposure and field conditions, potentially transforming agricultural management.

Read to the full story from St. Louis Magazine.