Catalogo Experimenta 06

INDEX SCIENTIFIC STUDIES
144
technology of the future.. It is obvious that to become good
bionic botanists it is necessary to erase the idea that there
are “useless” plants, and that the useful part of plants are
only those which contain abundant supplies of good, valuable
wood, textile fibres, flowers and leaves with an ornamental
value, medicinal substances. Research underway refers to
different types of plants and vital mechanisms still partially
unknown: different targets have almost been reached, while
others are still very far away.
Classic studies of plants are linked to chlorophyll photosynthesis,
mechanism which allows green plants to exploit solar
energy for their vital necessity. The biochemical process
is today well known, and technologies are about to capture
the suns rays transforming them into other energy, but the
compactness, lightness, cheapness and efficiency of natural
leaves have not yet been reached.
Modern research has allowed the discovery of numerous species
of plants which produce chemical insecticide, fungicide
or bactericide compounds. The molecules that form these
compounds are more selective and, in many cases, less toxic
than artificial products of synthesis. In addition, if correctly
used, they do not kill the pollinating animals. Reproducing
this type of molecules in the laboratory and better copying
the natural defence systems of plants allows reducing the negative
impact of cultivations on the environment.
The system of the movement of liquids in vascular plants must
still be studied more in depth. The plants which have colonised
the mainland from the era of dinosaurs are vascular plants:
roots, trunks and leaves are connected between themselves
by a system of conductor vessels which allow the movement
of water and vital liquids. In these plants, which do not have
a “heart”, that is a pulsating pump; the movement of liquids
comes about thanks to the evaporation of the water, and does
not consume internal energy. The flux of liquids in the canals
is regulated by the needs of the plant: the conductor ves-
sel is well protected from embolism and blockage of another
type. What does a modern scientist seek to obtain from this
mechanism? For example, a safe and more economic system
to transport some liquids over long distances, such as water
or petrol. Probably, in the future, the actual pipes of large
dimensions will be substituted by a network of thin fibres and
elaborated like the conductor canal of trees.
The internal structures of trunks of vascular plants, if studied
in depth, will also offer different clues for creating new
systems of construction for building and for infrastructure.
Many tress, palm trees and big grasses such as bamboo are in
fact excellent examples of resistance and economy, and were
tested over hundreds of years of evolution and exposure to
severe weather conditions.
Another line of study related to plants is that relative to the
production and use of cellulose, a substance of many uses it
has been proven more resistant, longer lasting and more economic
than cement, steel and plastic material. An in-depth
study of the disposition and order of the buds and seeds, such
as the spiral structure of the cones and sunflowers, will probably
bring about an improvement in packaging merchandise,
with a significant saving in space and raw materials.
Other studies refer to particulars apparently very insignificant.
Some researchers have studied in depth the mechanism
of opening and closing the flakes of cones, which inflate and
arch towards the outside when the air is humid, then arch
towards the inside, better protecting the seeds, when the
air becomes dry. After having analysed the movement of the
flakes, based on the stratification of different materials, the
research group is defining textiles able to liberate an excess
of humidity, for example sweat, thanks to raising tiny shreds
of material. The possible users are, above all, the producers of
sports clothes
Another secret to investigate further and then to use could
be that of making fibreglass directly from sea water. This pro-