The fluorescence properties of wounds on soybean seedlings were investigated

A recent study published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy studied plant wound healing by examining the fluorescence properties of wounds in soybean seedlings (1). This study used excited emission array (EEM) and fluorescence imaging (1). The researchers’ discovery opens up further studies of plant regeneration, which could have positive implications for the future of plant-based industries and sustainable agricultural practices (1).

Plants are living beings just like humans. Due to this fact, they can heal like humans. In this study, the researchers sought to learn about plant regeneration processes. To achieve this, a team at Nikita University developed a simple and non-destructive method to assess the healing potential of plant tissue (1).

The procedure used was as follows: Wounds were created on the stem of soybean seedlings. Seven days after sowing. Then, using fluorescence, the research team monitored the lesions over a 96-hour period (1). By using excited emission array (EEM) and fluorescence imaging techniques, researchers captured valuable data that shed light on the healing process at the microscopic level (1).

Using EEM to analyze wounds, researchers found three main fluorescence peaks, each exhibiting decreasing intensity during healing (1). Furthermore, fluorescence images excited by a wavelength of 365 nm showed a gradual reduction in the red color associated with chlorophyll, indicating a correlation between fluorescence properties and the curing process (1).

A confocal laser microscope was used to examine the injured tissue. This study revealed an intriguing phenomenon: the fluorescence intensity of lignin or suberin increases with curing time, suggesting that these substances may play a role in blocking the excitation light (1).

These findings open new avenues for non-destructive assessment of plant wound healing (1). The ability to assess the healing process through fluorescence properties provides a valuable tool for plant biologists and agricultural scientists seeking to improve crop health and productivity. By understanding the nuances of plant regeneration and response to injury, researchers can devise targeted strategies to improve healing and resilience in plants (1).

The team’s work represents a significant step forward in our understanding of plant wound healing. This sets the stage for future research and paves the way for the development of innovative techniques and tools that contribute to more sustainable and productive agricultural practices.

Note

(1) Saito, Y.; Ito, Y.; Tada, D.; Shoda, A.; Shiraiwa, D.; Kanto, N. Characterization of fluorescence properties of wounds in soybean seedlings during the healing process using stimulated emission matrix and fluorescence imaging. Spectrochemica Acta Part A: Mol. Biomol. Spectrasc. 2023, 298122766. DOI:10.1016/j.saa.2023.122766