WSURF Case 578
A Non-Invasive Device and Method to Measure Light Driven Proton Flux in Vivo.
Summary
Several strong arguments can be made for the need to have new field instrumentation for the study of photosynthetic reactions. It is known that a plant continuously strikes a bioenergetic compromise by balancing the efficiency of its photosynthetic apparatus with its susceptibility to photoinhibition. The range of environmental conditions over which such a balance can be maintained will in part determine its survival. Probing this balancing process under natural conditions is thus key to understanding and enhancing plant productivity. The Non-focusing Optics Kinetic Spectrophotometer referenced above achieves this by measuring the movement of protons through the photosynthetic system of plants using Dark Interval Relaxation Kinetics (DIRK) analysis (a spectroscopic technique that reveals the rates of reactions under steady-state conditions), which in turn provides an estimate of the photosynthetic efficiency, an indicator of plant stress.
Applications & Advantages
- Non-invasive
- Prototype developed
- Field portable
- Rapid on site analysis
IP Status
The technology is protected by twoUS patents; 6,624,887 & 6,813024 and is available for exclusive licensing.
Publications
Wine Business Monthly
For more information about this technology please contact WSURF:
1610 NE Eastgate Blvd, Suite 650
Pullman, WA 99164
Phone: (509) 335-5526
Fax: (509) 335-7237
wsurf@wsu.edu
