Time-resolved ultra-weak photon emission as germination performance indicator in single seedlings

Area of Science:

• Plant physiology
• Biophysics
• Photonics

Background:

• Plant seedlings naturally emit ultraweak photon emissions (UPE), a low-level light radiation.
• Previous UPE measurements focused on groups of seedlings, limiting individual assessment.
• Assessing individual seedling health is crucial for understanding plant development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure UPE from individual germinating seeds for the first time.
• To establish a benchmark for assessing early seedling health using UPE.
• To investigate species-specific differences in UPE during germination.

Main Methods:

• UPE measurements were conducted on single germinating seedlings of mung beans, corn, and wheat in low-noise laboratory conditions.
• Long-term, stable, and reproducible testing enabled accurate data collection.
• Seedling growth was quantified by measuring the total length of roots and leaflets over time.

Main Results:

• A general linear relationship was observed between UPE and seedling growth across species.
• Correlation coefficients (R²) varied: mung beans (group: ~0.834, single: <0.4), corn (0.57-0.83), and wheat (~0.62).
• Individual variation and seedling movement impacted UPE-growth correlation in single seedlings.

Conclusions:

• Individual UPE measurement provides a novel method for assessing seedling health.
• Species-specific patterns in UPE-growth relationships were identified.
• This technique offers a benchmark for evaluating the health and development of early-stage plants.