Thermographic Study of Plant Response to Excessive Light

A. Orzechowskaa, M. Trtílekb, E. Niewiadomskac aFaculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland bPhoton Systems Instruments, Drásov 470, 664 24 Drásov, Czech Republic cThe F. Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 21, 30-239 Kraków, Poland

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Thermal imaging as a highly sensitive technique was used to study a rapid response of plants to excessive light associated with stomatal movement. This response was monitored according to time-dependent changes in temperature over the leaf blades of plants exposed to photosynthetically active radiation. Two model organisms, Thellungiella salsuginea and Arabidopsis thaliana, which served as a control, were tested. A decreased stomata size in Thellungiella salsuginea resulted in an increased rosette temperature which was noticeable on the time-series thermograms as compared to controls. A primary response of plants to light revealed an exponential increase in the temperature time courses and resulted in a reduced thermal rise time for Thellungiella salsuginea relative to Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. The study evaluates the use of thermal imaging to analyse stomatal aperture. This non-invasive method, in particular the evaluation of thermal kinetics and analysis of thermal time constants, can be useful for monitoring the initial response of plants to excess irradiation.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.139.257 topics: infrared thermal imaging, leaf temperature, light-induced temperature kinetics, stomatal conductance