Skip to main content
. 2008 Jul 26;103(4):655–663. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcn127

Table 1.

Representative physiological and molecular processes readily visualized in vivo using various imaging methods

Parameter Process Wavelength Reference
Photosynthesis Fv/Fm Maximum quantum efficiency of PSII 470/700 Genty et al., 1989; Rolfe and Scholes, 1995;
NPQ Non-photochemical energy dissipation Oxborough, 2004
ΦPSII Quantum yield of electron transport
Water and energy status Thermal Transpiration, conductance None/ >1200 Jones, 1999; Omasa and Takayama, 2003
MRI Water transport X-rays and microwaves Gussoni et al., 2001, Clearwater and Clark, 2003
Tracers Depends on tracer Gaff and O-Ogoloa, 1971; Canny, 1990
Leaf pigments NDVI Chlorophyll content <700/750, 704 Gamon and Surfus, 1999
Red/green Anthocyanin content <700/600–699, 500–599
PRI Xanthophyll cycle <700/531, 570
Molecular interactions and cell environment GFP Gene expression, protein motility, organelle location, cellular pH 485/509 Buschmann et al., 2000; Dixit et al., 2006
RFP 490, 520, 563/583
BFP UV/440
Defence compounds Dyes Reactive oxygen species, Ca2+ 400–700 Fryer et al., 2002; Maffei et al., 2004
Metabolites Beta emission Carbohydrate/metabolite transport Autoradiography Minchin and Thorpe 2003; Thorpe et al., 2007

Where appropriate, the excitation and measurements wavelengths are noted (wavelength: excitation/measurement).

Modified from Aldea et al. (2006a).