Pisa, Italy
June 14, 2011
Radiofrequency Identification (RFID), or microchip technology, has been used for years in animal identification systems and is now being tested for use in plants. Researchers note that microchip techniques have varied applications for plants. The technology can be used to help guide visitors through parks and botanical gardens, to thwart theft of valuable plants, and to aid scientists and growers in monitoring plant health. For example, RFID codes have been used successfully with grapevines to create databases and to generate ‘‘virtual gardens’’ in which production, monitoring, global positioning system coordinates, and other data are archived.
Microchips have traditionally been attached externally, which can change the aesthetics of plants. Researchers in Italy have designed a new way to tag shrubs by imbedding microchips, thus minimizing damages to plants’ appearance. According to a study published in HortTechnology, the method is a desirable way to tag ornamental shrubs. “Plant tagging using radiofrequency identification (RFID) microchips is attractive for ornamental shrubs such as rose due to their high market value, wide distribution, health certification system, and numerous uses”, explained corresponding author Andrea Luvisi.
To test the effects of embedding microchips in roses, the scientists tagged two cultivars and performed observations of tissues around the microchip and growth analysis of plant canes. Results showed that microchip implantation did not cause xylem necrosis in 8- to 9-mm-diameter canes, but wilt of the lateral shoot and negative impacts on growth were observed in lower diameter canes compared to control plants. The tagged roses were tracked by a database developed for rose information, field log, and botanical sheet retrieval.
The findings suggested that rose plants can be safely tagged with a RFID microchip as early as the nursery phase without negative effects on plant appearance. “As opposed to other woody species for which methods of microchip implantation have been tested, rose tagging offers the possibility of insertion within canes of less than 10 mm diameter, such as those typically found in the rose nursery setting”, noted Luvisi. “Moreover, the possibility of tagging after grafting without changing common plant production procedures and aesthetic value are important considerations.”
The researchers added that their database has the capacity to track tagged plants from the nursery to maturity through multiple applications.
The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/6/1037
Radiofrequency Identification Tagging in Ornamental Shrubs: An Application in Rose
Andrea Luvisi1,6, Alessandra Panattoni1, Roberto Bandinelli2, Enrico Rinaldelli3, Mario Pagano3, Barbara Gini4, Giorgio Manzoni5 and Enrico Triolo1
1 Department of Tree Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology "G. Scaramuzzi," University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
2 Associazione Toscana Costitutori Viticoli (TOS.CO.VIT.), Via Vecchia di Marina, 6, 56010 San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy
3 Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science, University of Florence, Viale delle Idee, 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
4 Vivai New Plants di Barbara Gini, Via Togliatti, 41, 56040 Cenaia, Pisa, Italy
5 Centro di TeleGeomatica, University of Trieste, P.le Europa, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
ABSTRACT
Plant tagging using radiofrequency identification (RFID) microchips is attractive for ornamental shrubs, such as rose (Rosa spp.), due to their high market value, wide distribution, health certification system, and numerous uses. Differently from other woody species for which methods of microchip implantation have been tested, rose tagging requires the possibility of insertion within canes of less than 10 mm diameter, such as those typically found in the rose nursery setting. Moreover, the possibility of tagging after grafting without changing common plant production procedures and aesthetic value are important considerations. Toward this aim, a new method of microchip insertion was developed. To test its effects on roses, two cultivars were subjected to a tagging procedure, and histological observations of tissues around the microchip and growth analysis of plant canes were performed. Microchip implantation did not cause xylem necrosis in 8- to 9-mm-diameter canes, but in lower diameter canes wilt of the lateral shoot and detriments in growth were observed compared with control plants. The tagged roses were tracked by a database developed for rose information, field log, and botanical sheet retrieval. Our findings suggest that rose plants can be safely tagged with a RFID microchip following suitable selection of cane calliper as early as the nursery phase without negative effects on plant appearance.
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