Generative music music can be made from the electrical conductance of plants. This is done by attaching electrodes to the plant leaves to control the parameters of a EuroRack synthesiser.

This example shows the sonification of Scrub turpentine (Rhodamnia rubescens) which is a critically endangered Australian native plant. Scrub turpentine is highly sensitive to Myrtle Rust (a fungal pathogen) which is threatening its very existence

The Myrtle Rust fungus is silently killing our seedlings, saplings and established trees. Hundreds of Australian species in the Myrtaceae family are susceptible including bottlebrushes, eucalypts and tea trees with 16 species set to become extinct within a generation.

It is caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii, and was first detected in Australia in 2010. Myrtle rust causes yellow or orange pustules to appear on the leaves, stems, and flowers of infected plants. These pustules can lead to leaf loss, reduced growth and vigor, and, in severe cases, plant death.

The fungus can also weaken the plant’s natural defenses, making it more susceptible to other diseases and pests. Scientists and land managers are working to understand the disease and develop strategies to mitigate its impacts on native plants.