2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Infrared thermography is a measurement of an objects emittance of long wave radiation that allows us to visualize the temperature of an object. Stomatal conductance is a parameter frequently measured in plant science research; primarily to determine the effects of stressors on stomata and plant water relations. This gives us insight into plant photosynthesis, water, and stress status of plants. Porometry is a common measure of stomatal conductance, which requires contact with the leaf surface, and can influence the measurement being taken. Thermal imaging offers advantages over porometry for measurement of stomatal conductance. The objective of this study is to explore applications of thermal imaging during plant development. Aspects of this study include defining the relationship between thermal image parameters and stomatal conductance in Capsicum annum under ambient and drought stressed conditions. It is expected that the relationship between stomatal conductance and thermal index, calculated using thermal imaging data, will be linear and proportional. Preliminary research conducted on three tomato cultivars found a linear relationship between thermal index and stomatal conductance in all cultivars, and proportionality in one cultivar. It was also found that thermal index could be used to identify phenotypic differences in response to light stimulus in the tomato cultivars tested. Ongoing research to establish the relationship between stomatal conductance and thermal index will allow us to use thermal imaging to quantify and visualize dynamic stomatal response to drought stress in C. annum. This will be confirmed by analysis of stress response compounds in plant tissue samples.