Development of an electrochemical biosensor for phylogenetic analysis of Amaryllidaceae based on the enhanced electrochemical fingerprint recorded from plant tissue

A biosensor has been developed based on disposable screen-printed electrode for recording the electrochemical fingerprint of plant leaf tissue. A thin layer of polydopamine functionalized graphene sheets was coated on the plant tissue modified electrode for signal enhancement. The voltammetric data recorded under different buffer solutions can be derived as patterns for species identification. As the distribution of electrochemical active compounds in plants is controlled by genes, these fingerprints can reflect differences at the genetic level between species. Therefore, the electrochemical fingerprint of plant tissues can be used for phylogenetic research without qualitative analysis. 19 species of Amaryllidaceae including A. africanus, Clivia miniata, Clivia nobilis, Crinum firmifolium, Crinum latifolium, Crinum moorei, Curculiga gracilis, Cyrtanthus breviflorus, Habranthus robustus, Haemanthus albiflos, Haemathus multiflorus, Hippeastrum rutilum, Hymenocallis littoralis, Leucojum aestivum, Sprekelia formosissima, Tulbaghia violacea, Zephyranthes grandiflora, Zephyranthes macrosiphon and Zephyranthes minima have been selected deliberately. The dendrogram deduced from the electrochemical fingerprint was compared with the molecular phylogenetics. The results indicate the electrochemical fingerprint-based phylogenetic study is a persuasive methodology for plant phylogenetic analysis.