Open Access(454) Detecting Plant Stress by Chlorophyll Fluorescence
Author(s) -
Hussein AlAmier,
Robert Lussier,
Ming Coler,
Margaret Stoltzman,
Lyle E. Craker
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.40.4.1036c
Subject(s) - stress (linguistics) , chlorophyll fluorescence , photosynthesis , water stress , chlorophyll , environmental stress , chlorophyll a , botany , horticulture , biology , ecology , philosophy , linguistics
The stress level in a plant may be directly associated with the intensity of the Kautsky effect (the sudden increase in fluorescence emission by chlorophyll following a dark adaptation). The decrease in photosynthetic efficiency, linked with the rate of photochemistry of plants under stress, provides a definitive signature (graphical pattern) that can be quantified and monitored, even for plants that have no visible stress symptoms. Using a prototype GrowScanner®, signature differences in plants under nitrogen and water stress, as compared with plants not under stress, could be detected and measured. Returning stressed plants to a nonstressed condition returned the stress signatures to that of control plants not under stress. Development of the technology may provide a relatively quick, presymptomatic methodology for detecting plant stress without sacrificing plant tissue.