Patent ID: 7435876
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: B07C,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining the quantum efficiency of the photosynthetic system of a plant, comprising: determining a chlorophyll fluorescence image of said plant material, by irradiating the plant material with a beam of electromagnetic radiation comprising one or more wavelengths such that at least a part of the chlorophyll present is excitated by at least a part of the radiation, the beam of electromagnetic radiation having such a shape that only a part of the plant material is initially arradiated, and the beam being moved over the plant material such that further parts of the plant material are irradiated, wherein fluorescence radiation originating from the plant material associated with chlorophyll transition, is measured with an imaging detector for obtaining a chlorophyll fluorescence image, wherein: during a certain duration of time, several fast scans are made over the plant material with the electromagnetic beam for obtaining a chlorophyll fluorescence image Ffast, and during a certain duration of time, a slow scan is made over the plant material with the electromagnetic beam for obtaining a chlorophyll fluorescence image Fslow, and subsequently obtaining a characteristic chlorophyll fluorescence image that is a measure for the quantum efficiency of the photosynthetic system of plant material and is calculated from the chlorophyll fluorescence images Ffast and Fslow.