Greifswald 2024 – scientific programme
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SYEC: Symposium Lasers and Photonic Technologies for Environmental Challenges
SYEC 5: Photonic Measurement Technology for the Environment
SYEC 5.2: Talk
Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 17:45–18:00, ELP 6: HS 4
A portable OCT system to investigate the influence of environmental factors on plants under field conditions — •Miroslav Zabic1,2, Mohamad Bsata1, Akshay Solleti1, Timm Landes1,2,3, Hans Bethge1,2, and Dag Heinemann1,2,3 — 1Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (HOT), Leibniz University Hannover, Germany — 2Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany — 3PhoenixD Cluster of Excellence, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
Optical coherence tomography (OCT), a non-destructive imaging technique, is increasingly recognized in the field of plant biology for its potential in addressing environmental challenges in agriculture. The conventional stationary setup of OCT systems limits their application for on-site use, often necessitating plant dissection for laboratory analysis. Here we present a portable OCT system, enabling direct observation of plants in their natural environments. A possible application of this system is the monitoring of russeting in apple skin. Russeting in apples, which manifests as brown, rough patches on the skin, is promoted by several environmental factors and leads to significant economic losses, as affected apples often fail to meet market standards for sale. This not only affects profitability but also raises concerns about sustainability, as it results in increased food waste and resource inefficiency. By enabling OCT imaging on apples still on the tree, our system could offer new insights in russeting development and its dynamic interplay with environmental factors such as humidity. We detail technical aspects of our system and present preliminary results.
Keywords: OCT; optical coherence tomography; portable