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A method for quantitative analysis of spatially variable physiological processes across leaf surfaces

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Abstract

Many physiological processes are spatially variable across leaf surfaces. While maps of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, gene expression, water transport, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for individual leaves are readily obtained, analytical methods for quantifying spatial heterogeneity and combining information gathered from the same leaf but with different instruments are not widely used. We present a novel application of tools from the field of geographical imaging to the multivariate analysis of physiological images. Procedures for registration and resampling, cluster analysis, and classification provide a general framework for the analysis of spatially resolved physiological data. Two experiments were conducted to illustrate the utility of this approach. Quantitative analysis of images of chlorophyll fluorescence and the production of ROS following simultaneous exposure of soybean leaves to atmospheric O3 and soybean mosaic virus revealed that areas of the leaf where the operating quantum efficiency of PSII was depressed also experienced an accumulation of ROS. This correlation suggests a causal relationship between oxidative stress and inhibition of photosynthesis. Overlaying maps of leaf surface temperature and chlorophyll fluorescence following a photoinhibition treatment indicated that areas with low operating quantum efficiency of PSII also experienced reduced stomatal conductance (high temperature). While each of these experiments explored the covariance of two processes by overlaying independent images gathered with different instruments, the same procedures can be used to analyze the covariance of information from multiple images. The application of tools from geographic image analysis to physiological processes occurring over small spatial scales will help reveal the mechanisms generating spatial variation across leaves.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. Bohnert for the use of the thermal camera, S. Clough and D. Bilgin for assistance with the virus inoculation, and S. Long and C. Chen for the use of the ozone generator. This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (IBN 0326053) and USDA NRI (2002-02723). The authors do not specifically or implicitly endorse or promote the use of any of the equipment, products or software mentioned in the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Mihai Aldea

  2. Department of Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Thomas D. Frank

  3. Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 265 Morrill Hall (MC 116), 505 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Evan H. DeLucia

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  1. Mihai Aldea
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Correspondence to Evan H. DeLucia.

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Aldea, M., Frank, T.D. & DeLucia, E.H. A method for quantitative analysis of spatially variable physiological processes across leaf surfaces. Photosynth Res 90, 161–172 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-006-9119-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-006-9119-z

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