Use of a highly sensitive two-dimensional luminescence imaging system to monitor endogenous bioluminescence in plant leaves.

Flor-Henry, Michel and McCabe, Tulene C and De Bruxelles, Guy L. and Roberts, Michael R (2004) Use of a highly sensitive two-dimensional luminescence imaging system to monitor endogenous bioluminescence in plant leaves. BMC Plant Biology, 4 (9).

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Abstract

Background All living organisms emit spontaneous low-level bioluminescence, which can be increased in response to stress. Methods for imaging this ultra-weak luminescence have previously been limited by the sensitivity of the detection systems used. Results We developed a novel configuration of a cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) for 2-dimensional imaging of light emission from biological material. In this study, we imaged photon emission from plant leaves. The equipment allowed short integration times for image acquisition, providing high resolution spatial and temporal information on bioluminescence. We were able to carry out time course imaging of both delayed chlorophyll fluorescence from whole leaves, and of low level wound-induced luminescence that we showed to be localised to sites of tissue damage. We found that wound-induced luminescence was chlorophyll-dependent and was enhanced at higher temperatures. Conclusions The data gathered on plant bioluminescence illustrate that the equipment described here represents an improvement in 2-dimensional luminescence imaging technology. Using this system, we identify chlorophyll as the origin of wound-induced luminescence from leaves.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
BMC Plant Biology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/qh301
Subjects:
?? BIOLUMINESCENCE PLANTS WOUNDING STRESSBIODIVERSITY AND GLOBAL CHANGEPLANT SCIENCEQH301 BIOLOGY ??
ID Code:
91
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
12 Oct 2005
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
16 Sep 2023 00:30