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How Light Fluorescence Ratios Help Detect Plant Stress Before Symptoms Appear

February 2, 2026 at 5:33 pm | Updated February 2, 2026 at 5:33 pm | 12 min read

Plant leaves fluoresce red, far-red, blue, and green under varying wavelengths of light. Chlorophyll fluorescence-based ratios include Fv/Fm and the red-to-far-red ratio. Fluorescence from red, far-red, blue, and green light occurs in response to UV light. Blue-to-red and blue-to-far-red ratios are more sensitive to stress than the chlorophyll fluorescence ratio of red/far-red. Plants do not… Continue reading…

Fixed leaf image

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Ci‑203 vs Plant Imaging Systems Handheld Meter vs Integrated Imaging Rig
Ci‑203 vs Plant Imaging Systems Handheld Meter vs Integrated Imaging Rig

Ci‑203 vs Plant Imaging Systems: Handheld Meter vs Integrated Imaging Rig

Understanding how leaf traits change across treatments, environments, and species is central to modern plant science. Choosing the right tool shapes data quality and workflow, and one decision researchers often face is whether to use a handheld device or invest in a larger integrated imaging system. Both approaches quantify leaf traits, yet they serve different… Continue reading…

CI-600 vs SoilCore + Lab Root Scanning: Which Is Faster and More Reliable?

Researchers who measure below-ground dynamics often ask which workflow offers the best mix of speed, reliability and long-term usability. This comparison usually comes down to the CI-600 in-situ root imager and the traditional SoilCore plus lab root-scanning pipeline. In this article, we break down both methods and look at speed, reliability, sources of error and… Continue reading…

Complete Buyer’s Guide to Leaf Area Measurement Instruments

Understanding leaf area measurement is central to plant physiology, agronomy, forestry, and ecology. Researchers rely on accurate leaf metrics to track growth, predict crop performance, analyze stress response, and quantify traits across treatments. With several tools available in the research market, knowing what to choose can be overwhelming. This guide breaks down the major instrument… Continue reading…

How to Choose a Canopy Analyzer: What to Look For in 2025

Choosing a canopy analyzer in 2025 is not as straightforward as picking the newest device on the market. Plant scientists, ecologists, foresters and agronomists rely on these instruments to quantify canopy structure, estimate LAI, evaluate light environments and understand how vegetation interacts with the atmosphere. Because the canopy analyzer plays such a central role in… Continue reading…

Buyer Checklist: Root Imagers for Crop‑Rhizosphere Research

Selecting the right root imagers for crop rhizosphere research is a practical decision that often determines the quality and reliability of underground data. Roots change constantly as they respond to water, nutrients, texture, biota, and management. Capturing these responses in situ requires imaging systems that are stable, portable, and able to deliver clear, repeatable scans… Continue reading…

Budgeting for Plant Physiology Equipment: Total Cost of Ownership Explained

Researchers often focus on the upfront price of plant physiology equipment, but the long term picture is shaped by maintenance, usability, reliability, and operational efficiency. Understanding the total cost of ownership is essential for making informed decisions, especially when equipment will be used for multi year projects, field campaigns, or collaborative studies. In this article,… Continue reading…