M. Javaid Iqbal
PhD (Leeds, UK)

Department of Plant Agriculture
University of Guelph, 
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.

Tel. 519 824 4120 Ext. 56161
E-mail: iqbal@uoguelph.ca

Chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging lab is equipped with powerful Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imager manufactured by Technologica Ltd, UK. The beauty of the system is that images are saved in the computer. The researcher can go back to the images and focus up to pixel level to estimate photosynthetic activity. During an experiment, the whole leaf can be imaged and chlorophyll fluorescence values can be calculated for a particular area of interest on the leaf.

Applications
Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imager can be used for various types research such as the application of herbicides, chilling, drought, and other environmental challenges, affect chlorophyll fluorescence before there are any other measurable effects on the plant. Measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence therefore allows rapid, early and non-invasive detection of stress. Even the effect of treatments that perturb metabolic processes other than photosynthesis may be investigated since many of these affect fluorescence indirectly. CF Imager is extremely effective in screening for variations in photosynthetic performance, identification of metabolic perturbations, and potential for growth and yield.

Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imager can also be used to study the disease spread after inoculation. As shown in the picture zone 1 was inoculated in this leaf and then disease spread to other zones was studied over a period of time. In this case the disease development shows a pattern and spread is in a particular direction.