Are you talking about "Neuroagronomy"? For sure there a lot of conections between Neurology and Agronomy, and is just arrived the time to clarify the theme. The "monsanto´s companies" are unable to hidden these evidences for the eternity. As I am going to do a research on the subject next year, please get together. Best regards, Paulo.

thanks for your information. If this way correct mean lets go together in research work Paulo

I very much doubt of any direct relation between Agronomy and Neurology simply because of the fact that plants does not posses a nervous system. One can make a lot of analogies, common models etc., but that can be done virtually for any system, natural or artificial.

But an interesting question. As they study the mission of a proteine maybe they also can speak of the mission of a plant.

Thanking you friend

Dear Rita,

Extension of human intellect is possible in all directions. This is also quite interesting question. However, including other living beings as an essential part of it usually is scientifically misleading. Even as simple analogies, as one can see from the public perception of "Plant neurobiology". Therefore, it is better to put "mission" in quote.

Dear all,

over the past few years I have conducted research in both agronomy and neuroscience and I think there are several research topics where these two disciplines cross over, though these links have so far not (greatly) been explored by the research community. Here are a few examples:

1) Effects of crop protection products used in agronomic practice on the behaviour (and underlying neurobiological mechanisms of both target and non-target organisms (e.g. Foster et al. 2005: Bull. Ent. Res. 95:37; Mommaerts et al. 2010: Exotox 19:207; Kevan & Menzel 2012: Environmentalist 32: 300).

2) Neurobiological mechanisms underlying host finding behaviour of pest insects and their interaction with agronomic practices such as mulching (e.g. Döring et al. 2007: Arthropod Plant Interact 1: 3; Cook et al. 2013: Artrhopod Plant Interact 7:249).

3) The application of knowledge gained in "Neuroscience of decision making" (eg. Rangel et al. 2008. Nature Rev. Neurosci. 9:545) to complex farmer decisions in agronomy.

4) Effects of agronomic practices (e.g. phosphate fertilizer application) on human neurobiology (neurohormones, behaviour) through changes in food quality (e.g. increased levels of neurotoxic substances such as heavy metals).

5) Changes in aquatic food webs following overfertilization. E.g. there can be mass development of algae that produce neurotoxins (Brand et al. 2010: Harmful Algae 9:620).

6) Plant Neurobiology - a controversial term - (e.g. Iriti 2013: Int. J. Mol. Sci. 14, 10819; Baluska & Mankuso 2009: Plant Signal. Behav. 4:475, Shepherd 2012: Science & Culture 78: 196) applied to crop plants. Here, the most relevant intersection could be the investigation of agronomic practices on serotonin and melatonin levels in crop plants (Hattori et al. 1995: Biochem Mol Biol Int. 35:627; Tan et al. 2012: J Exp. Bot. 63:577).

In summary, I think the two main bridges between neuroscience and agronomy are "behaviour" and "toxins". Direct application at the level of farmers' fields is probably not possible at the moment, because knowledge in this interdisciplinary area is currently relatively scarce.