OPTICAL METHOD FOR ASSESSING FUNCTIONAL STATE OF PLANTS Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC A01G7/04 

FIELD: biology.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to experimental biology, plant growing, agriculture and forestry. Method involves the measurement of optical parameters of chlorophyll-containing tissues. Light scattering of photosynthesizing plant tissue is recorded when flash exposing the blue spectrum (in the area of the first maximum of chlorophyll absorption 460-480 nm) to monochromatic optical radiation with the power density of 150-800 w/m² for 20-40 seconds. Then the monochromatic probe radiation of red spectrum (in the area of the second maximum of chlorophyll absorption 650-660 nm) is activated with the power density of 2,500-6,000 w/m². For the following 30-120 seconds the dynamics of light scattering of the same tissue area continue to be registered. Photosynthesis activity and photodegradation resistance is determined based on the value and sign of values α and β, calculated using the formulas: and where |α| is the speed of light scattering intensity during exposure to blue spectrum optical radiation; I₀₁ is average light scattering intensity in the first 1-3 seconds of exposure to blue spectrum optical radiation; |β| is the speed of light scattering intensity during exposure to red spectrum optical radiation; I₀₂ is average light scattering intensity in the first 1-3 seconds during exposure to red spectrum optical radiation; t is current time. Higher the value of the modules of these indicators at negative sign, the higher the photosynthetic activity and photodegradation resistance, and the higher the value of the modules of indicators α and β at positive sign, the weaker the photosynthetic activity and resistance to photodegradation.

EFFECT: method reduces labour input needed to assess the functional state of plants and increase its efficiency by means of quantitative evaluation of the photosynthesis activity and resistance to photodegradation of chlorophyll-containing tissues during one measurement cycle.

1 cl, 1 dwg, 1 ex, 1 tbl