Therefore, eating potatoes that have sprouted can cause you to ingest excessive amounts of these compounds. However, they can become toxic when eaten in excess ( 1, 2).Īs a potato sprouts, its glycoalkaloid content begins to rise. In small amounts, glycoalkaloids may offer health benefits, including antibiotic properties and blood-sugar- and cholesterol-lowering effects. Potatoes are a natural source of solanine and chaconine –– two glycoalkaloid compounds naturally found in various other foods, including eggplants and tomatoes ( 1). Lastly, again on the basis of the same structure, the researchers have come up with a microrobotic system capable of using microsteps to move over the surface of the leaves.Why sprouted potatoes may be dangerous to eat In particular, hooks printed with the use of a photosensitive resin have been assembled together with electronics and sensors for light, temperature and humidity within a unified system, creating intelligent clips for the wireless monitoring of the plant through both sides of the leaf. “This form of anchoring can be exploited for in situ monitoring of the plant’s microclimate, such as temperature, humidity and light, or for the controlled release of molecules into the plant’s vascular system”. “These micro-hooks are versatile and have allowed us to create a range of applications, as well as filing a patent”, explained Isabella Fiorello, a researcher in Mazzolai’s group at the Genoa-based IIT, and the main author of the project. Furthermore, once applied, the plaster dissolves, thus avoiding the creation of waste.

This application allows the micro-hooks to be used as a plaster that can locally release beneficial substances, pharmaceuticals, pesticides or bactericides onto the leaves, optimizing the use of natural resources and reducing the excessive use of pesticides, thus contributing to the protection of ecosystems. By attaching to the plant, the isomalt micro-hooks can connect with the leaf’s vascular system and, as isomalt is soluble, dissolve inside. One initial application has been designed to penetrate plant cuticle in a barely invasive manner, allowing plants to be monitored and treated. The hooks were made with a high-resolution 3D printer, employing a range of highly resistant materials and with characteristics that can be adapted to the relative application, for example to photosensitive or biodegradable materials made from isomalt, a sugar-like substance. The researchers at IIT studied the structure of these natural micro-hooks from both a morphological and biomechanical point of view in order to artificially reproduce their characteristics. These hooks allow it to anchor onto the surfaces of other plants as it grows, exploiting them for physical support. The climbing plant Galium aparine, commonly known as ‘catchweed’, has evolved a particular mechanism for parasitic anchoring that allows it to climb over other plants via micro-hooks on its leaves. Hooks made with a high-resolution 3D printer

The research has been funded with the support of the National Geographic Society, and as part of the European-funded project GrowBot, dedicated to the creation of new robots inspired by climbing plants and for which Mazzolai is coordinator.

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