Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 27, 2026
11:37
RGB and Spectral Root Imaging for Plant Phenotyping and Physiological Research: Experimental Setup and Imaging Protocols
Published on: August 8, 2017
17.1K
A mobile NMR lab for leaf phenotyping in the field.
Maja Musse1,2, Laurent Leport2,3, Mireille Cambert1,2
1IRSTEA, OPAALE, 17, avenue de Cucillé, 35044 Rennes Cedex, France.
Plant Methods
|July 4, 2017
Summary
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) can monitor plant leaf development in field conditions, even with environmental variations. This technique detects structural tissue changes during senescence, aiding in phenotyping and crop improvement.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is established for studying water status and leaf development in controlled plant growth conditions.
- NMR can detect subtle senescence-related structural changes in plant tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate NMR's potential for robustly indicating leaf development stages in field-grown plants.
- To extend plant phenotyping from laboratory settings to natural environments with fluctuating conditions.
Main Methods:
- A mobile NMR laboratory was developed for in-situ characterization of oilseed rape leaves.
- NMR measurements from field-grown plants were compared with those from plants grown under controlled laboratory conditions.
Main Results:
- NMR successfully assessed the physiological status of leaves in natural field environments.
- The method detected structural modifications in leaf tissues during senescence, despite environmental heterogeneity.
- Specific environmental factor effects on structural modifications were identified.
Conclusions:
- NMR is suitable for detecting structural tissue modifications during senescence in heterogeneous field conditions.
- This advancement supports phenotyping in natural environments and aids in selecting genotypes tolerant to water or nitrogen depletion.
Related Concept Videos
02:16Light Acquisition
9.7K
In order to produce glucose, plants need to capture sufficient light energy. Many modern plants have evolved leaves specialized for light acquisition. Leaves can be only millimeters in width or tens of meters wide, depending on the environment. Due to competition for sunlight, evolution has driven the evolution of increasingly larger leaves and taller plants, to avoid shading by their neighbors with contaminant elaboration of root architecture and mechanisms to transport water and nutrients.
9.7K
01:25Applications Of NMR In Biology
4.6K
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a very valuable analytical technique for researchers. It has been used for more than 50 years as an analytical tool. F. Bloch and E. Purcell formulated NMR in 1946 and won the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work. Biological macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and organic molecules including pharmaceutical compounds, can be studied using this versatile tool that exploits the magnetic properties of certain nuclei.
4.6K
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
24.6K
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
24.6K