Five Ways To Increase Harvest Index

Improving the harvest index is crucial for economic and ecological reasons. The means to increase the harvest index can vary with the crops. Plant breeding is more critical for maize, while irrigation practices are vital for rice. Growth regulators that increase source activity and strengthen sinks are needed in pineapple, while growth retardants to limit… Continue reading…

How Leaf Spectroscopy in Agriculture Optimizes Precision Farming: Five Studies From 2024

Leaf visual and near-infrared spectroscopy is used to predict new parameters, like leaf macronutrients, micronutrients, and water content, which can have applications in advising precision agriculture decisions. Leaf spectral application in phenotyping varieties covers more crop species for crop breeding. Disease detection and leaf degradation of cut flowers through leaf spectroscopy are other critical applications.… Continue reading…

How Does the Role of Senescence Affect Crop Productivity?

Senescence can determine and increase crop productivity. Selecting for cultivars with delayed senescence improves yield only in some species. Senescence increases plant phenotypic plasticity, helping it to adapt to abiotic stress. Senescence is a significant agricultural trait that affects crop growth, stress adaptation, yield, and postharvest storage. Plants are unusual as they can time senescence… Continue reading…

The CI-710s Leaf Spectrometer: A Researcher’s Perspective

In a recent discussion with Scott Trimble, Vice President of Marketing for Felix Instruments, researchers Saroj Burlakoti and Anju Chaudhary from Utah State University shared their experiences using the CI-710s Leaf Spectrometer. The conversation highlighted the instrument’s critical role in their research, focusing on ornamental plants, water conservation, and fertilizer reduction. This article summarizes the… Continue reading…

What is Senescence in Trees and Why Is It Important?

Senescence occurs at the cell, tissue, organs, and individual levels. Organ senescence is consequential in trees as it helps “recycle materials” within an individual tree to maintain function and productivity. Organ and whole tree senescence are also crucial for nutrient cycling, wildlife diversity, and forest productivity. Senescence is an integral part of all living organisms,… Continue reading…

Invisible Signals 2024: How To Use Plant Spectroscopy To Reveal Disease & Enhance Plant Health

Request a Quote  |  Schedule a Demo To view the full slide deck, click here. Video Description Did you miss our exclusive webinar on the latest advancements in Leaf Spectroscopy for 2024 featuring the Spectravue Leaf Spectrometer? Don’t worry. You can watch the full recording here! In this webinar, we covered: Impact on Plant Health:… Continue reading…

Understanding Drought Resistance Strategies: A Guide to Plant Adaptation

Drought Resistance Strategies include any plant mechanism that responds and adapts to drought, commonly called drought resistance. Plants use drought escape mechanisms to prevent encountering climatic established drought conditions by altering their lifespan. Drought avoidance strategies avoid the adverse impacts of mild and acute drought on cells by reducing plant water loss. Stress tolerance mechanisms… Continue reading…

Plant Responses to Heat Stress

Heat stress affects crop development, growth, and productivity. Plants have adaptive responses for either avoidance or tolerance of heat stress. The plant responds to heat, which can be molecular, biochemical, cellular, physiological, and morphological, and is being used by scientists to develop new cultivars for the future. The increase in temperature due to climate change… Continue reading…

How to Measure 7 Types of Stress in Plants Using Leaf Spectroscopy

Leaf Spectroscopy can measure seven common stresses that crops encounter. The crop leaf stressors are drought, nutrient deficiency, temperature, pests, diseases, salinity, and herbicides. Spectral changes due to physiological, anatomical, and chemical alterations triggered by stress are used in its measurement. Various methods are visual, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal imaging, and light interaction. Yield depends on… Continue reading…

How Climate Change Impacts Leaf Pigments

Chlorophylls, carotenoids, and anthocyanins are the pigments coloring leaves green, orange, and red, respectively. Chlorophyll degradation, a crucial phenomenon in autumn, is getting delayed due to climate change cutting the fall color change time short with repercussions on nitrogen cycling and carbon storage. Warm temperature makes tropical forest leaves darker and reduces light reflection, which… Continue reading…