Thermal Imaging of Plant Stress Response

Plants tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress is a global problem for sustainable agricultural production.According to Food and Agriculture Organization, abiotic (environment) and biotic (microorganisms) stresscould decrease crop productivity by 60-75%. Our industrial partner, Acadian Seaplants Ltd. (ASL) is Canada'sleading producer of seaweed extracts and associated agricultural products. They recently discovered thatseaweed extract could increase plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Unfortunately, the limitedinformation about the physiological mechanisms of its action has a negative impact on the marketing of thisproduct. This will be our first-time partnership, which is going to scientifically prove/reject the hypothesis thatbioactive components of seaweed extract could modify primary response of plants to biotic and abiotic stress.The industry is looking for thermal imaging as an ultimate tool to visualize stress-protective properties ofseaweed extract on the early stages of plant adaptation or pathogen attack. This original research will help toanswer a number of questions, desired by the company that will create opportunities to enhance marketing andto further the commercial exploitation of their products. First of all, thermal imaging will answer the questionif the positive effects of seaweed extract are superficial or internally mediated. Secondly, it will help todetermine appropriate timing of applications, i.e. whether seaweed extract should be applied as a "primer" toincrease plant immunity or after infection once a pathogenic organism has become established on a plant host.It is expected that application of seaweed extract will reduce the probability of infection and also the rate atwhich pathogens are able to multiply and spread within a plant. The new knowledge would be beneficial fornot only for the marketing of new seaweed products, but also for better understanding of correlations betweenprimary stress-response and plant tolerance. The lasting positive outcome of this project will be to extend theuse of thermal imagery for agricultural applications, which will help to maintain Canadian agri-food industryon the cutting edge of global innovation.