Landmark project to turn mistletoe into climate-proof plant tech

A pioneering Essex plant biologist has been awarded a landmark grant to turn parasitic mistletoe into a living tool to help a warming world.

Dr Pallavi Singh, from the School of Life Sciences, is the first researcher at the University of Essex to receive funding from the Government’s Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA).

The ground-breaking project will see R&D Creators Dr Pallavi Singh and Dr Nick Aldred collaborate with local mistletoe growers to transform this parasitic plant into programmable biological interfaces capable of supporting host plants.

These could eventually be used in farming, conservation, and environmental monitoring.

The PlantPlug project is part of ARIA’s Programmable Plants programme, which seeks nature-based innovations to tackle major global challenges including food insecurity, climate change, and environmental degradation.

Dr Singh said: "This is a completely new way of thinking about parasitic plants, not as pests, but as potential partners.

"By reimagining mistletoe as a living interface, we can begin to design plant-to-plant systems that sense, respond, and even enhance the performance of their hosts."

PlantPlug aims to reimagine mistletoe, a hemi-parasitic plant that naturally attaches to other species and draws nutrients and water, as a functional partner rather than a threat.

Deliver beneficial traits

The grant will support the development of a system that enables mistletoe to deliver beneficial traits to its host plants, such as improved nutrient uptake, greater tolerance to environmental stress, and the ability to sense changes in local conditions.

Unlike traditional genetic modification, the PlantPlug platform does not involve altering the plant’s DNA. Instead, it uses a non-transgenic, modular approach that integrates with the plant’s existing biology.

This could offer a more flexible and publicly acceptable alternative to conventional crop engineering, bypassing many regulatory and ethical concerns associated with GMOs.

'Secure our future on earth'

ARIA is a Research and Development funding agency created by the UK Government to unlock high-risk, high-reward scientific breakthroughs.

Established by Act of Parliament and sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the agency backs teams working at the frontiers of science and engineering.

ARIA Programme Director Angie Burnett said, "Plants have paved the way for human thriving and hold potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges: food insecurity, climate change and environmental degradation.

"Programmable Plants could secure our future on Earth, providing not just food, but a sustainable and thriving biosphere for future generations."