Portable Raman leaf-clip sensor for rapid detection of plant stress

Shilpi Gupta,Gajendra Pratap Singh,Chung Hao Huang,Bong Soo Park,Nam-Hai Chua,Rajeev J Ram

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-76485-5

Abstract

Precision agriculture requires new technologies for rapid diagnosis of plant stresses, such as nutrient deficiency and drought, before the onset of visible symptoms and subsequent yield loss. Here, we demonstrate a portable Raman probe that clips around a leaf for rapid, in vivo spectral analysis of plant metabolites including carotenoids and nitrates. We use the leaf-clip Raman sensor for early diagnosis of nitrogen deficiency of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana as well as two important vegetable crops, Pak Choi (Brassica rapa chinensis) and Choy Sum (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis). In vivo measurements using the portable leaf-clip Raman sensor under full-light growth conditions were consistent with those obtained with a benchtop Raman spectrometer measurements on leaf-sections under laboratory conditions. The portable leaf-clip Raman sensor offers farmers and plant scientists a new precision agriculture tool for early diagnosis and real-time monitoring of plant stresses in field conditions.

Highlights

Precision agriculture requires new technologies for rapid diagnosis of plant stresses, such as nutrient deficiency and drought, before the onset of visible symptoms and subsequent yield loss
Raman spectra were acquired from Arabidopsis thaliana grown under sufficient (+N) and deficient (−N) condition of Nitrogen (N) as described above
Rapid quantification of the stress phenotype associated with nutrient deficiency has been demonstrated using a portable leaf-clip Raman sensor

Summary

Introduction

Precision agriculture requires new technologies for rapid diagnosis of plant stresses, such as nutrient deficiency and drought, before the onset of visible symptoms and subsequent yield loss. The designed Raman leaf-clip sensor is demonstrated for in vivo and in situ acquisition of Raman spectra under growing conditions for a wide range of vegetable plants (Kailan, Lettuce, Choy Sum, Pak Choi, and Spinach) as well as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

Results

Conclusion