A method for diagnosing infections in agricultural crops for smart greenhouses developed at UNN
The new method identifies a diseased plant by its reaction to rhythmic light flashes. Active conversion of light energy into heat and intensity of fluorescence are key indicators of infection with a pathogen. This method can be used in automatic plant condition monitoring systems in smart greenhouses. In laboratory settings, this approach makes it possible to monitor the effectiveness of antiviral drugs and to grow plants resistant to diseases.
"We have used a scanning pulse fluorimeter to study the spread of viruses in tobacco leaves. Such devices make it possible to simultaneously expose plants to light and take photos, providing visualisation of various plant parameters. The main goal is to select the appropriate imaging mode in order to identify the disease, including the timing and duration of light flashes. We have developed algorithms for diagnosing one of the most common viruses that affect nightshade crops such as tobacco, potatoes, and tomatoes," said Alyona Grishina, a postgraduate student at the UNN Department of Biophysics and the author of the study.
In Nizhny Novgorod, the Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with scientists from Lobachevsky University, is working to develop one of the first domestically produced fluorimeters. UNN research data will be used to configure the device. Plans include testing the device at the Lobachevsky University Biophysics Centre.
"Scientists all over the world are developing fluorimeter imaging modes to assess plant health and detect pathogens. The more specific shooting modes we have for certain pathogens, the faster we can diagnose diseases. Ideally, there should be a specialised imaging mode for each virus, bacterium, or fungus," explained Alyona Grishina.
The research was conducted by scientists from the UNN Biophysics Centre as part of the World-Class Science Centre’s Photonics project. With the support of the UNN Technology Transfer Centre, the technology has been patented and the results have been published in several articles in the prestigious international journal "Plants".
