Photonic Technologies in Plant and Agricultural Science II

The demands on modern plant and food production have increased significantly in recent years. On the one hand, the framework conditions are becoming increasingly difficult due to climate change and various regulations, and on the other hand, the expectations are growing steadily due to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and international bioeconomy strategies. Photonic technologies are a key component in closing this gap due to their wide range of applications and thus a major driver for improving overall sustainability in agriculture. The applications of photonic technologies range from basic research in plant sciences to practice-oriented agronomic applications in the field: Modern microscopic techniques allow the investigation of morphogenetic processes and thus help to understand in detail the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes of plants. Plant phenotyping and precision farming primarily depend on characteristics assessed using optical sensors, including Lidar, chlorophyll fluorescence, and imaging spectroscopy (multi- or hyperspectral imaging). Laser-micromanipulation provides a tool for manipulating plant tissues on a microscopic scale. Optical screening methods identify optimal candidates for resistance breeding. Spectroscopic methods detect constituents and allow contactless evaluation of nutritional values and quality of food. Laser speckle imaging serves as a valuable tool for measuring sap flow in plants, a crucial parameter for autonomous greenhouse control. In addition, there are laser-based methods for weed control and pest management. The different sensor data are increasingly complemented by methods of automatic data evaluation from the AI domain which allow rapid evaluation and interpretation, for example for analyzing imaging spectrometer data or detection of weeds and plant diseases.

This conference aims at bringing together these different aspects of photonic technologies in the field of plant sciences, agricultural research and the food chain from a technical perspective. Publications from the following and related topics are sought:

UTILIZATION OF COHERENT AND INCOHERENT LIGHT FOR MANIPULATION OF PLANTS:

• laser weeding
• micro-manipulation of plants, e.g., for molecular delivery of ablation studies
• laser processing of plant materials
• optical disinfection within the food chain
• lasers for pest management
• desolation and thinning of plant components using lasers.

OPTICAL IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPIC SENSING OF PLANTS:

• spectral imaging of plants and canopies, phytomonitoring
• spectroscopic evaluation of nutrition values, food quality and ripening
• optical biomechanics of plants, e.g., via OCE and Brillouin spectroscopy
• 3D acquisition of plants and plant organs using optical methods such as OCT, LIDAR, stereo cameras, TOF.

DIGITAL METHODS FOR DATA PROCESSING IN PLANT AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE:

• image recognition of agricultural pests and abiotic stress
• allocation and component analysis of spectroscopic data
• machine vision, e.g., for detection of weeds
• quantification of plant/vegetation indices.

ASSOCIATED SUBJECTS:

• carrier systems
• integration of optical systems
• laser safety
• plant (in vitro) culture systems for optical sensing
• optical sensing techniques in vertical farming
• optical sensing technologies for safe food production in space.