Advances of Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging and Mapping Technologies of Plant Material

J.      D. Pallua; C.      Pezzei; V.      Huck-Pezzei; S.      A. Schonbichler; L.      K. Bittner; G.      K. Bonn; A.      Saeed; S.      Majeed; A.      Farooq; M.      Najam-ul-Haq; G.      Abel; M.      Popp; C.      W. Huck

doi:10.2174/157340711796011179

Abstract

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging and mapping techniques have become essential tools for the detection and characterization of the molecular components of biological tissues and the modern analytical techniques enabling molecular imaging of complex botanical samples. These techniques are based on the absorption of IR radiations by vibrational transitions in covalent bonds and their major advantage is the acquisition of local molecular expression profiles, while maintaining the topographic integrity of the tissue by avoiding time-consuming extraction, purification and separation steps. These new techniques enable global analysis of biological samples with high spatial resolution and provide unique chemical-morphological information about the tissue status. With these non-destructive examination methods it is possible to get qualitative and quantitative information of heterogeneous samples. In this paper recent applications of infrared spectroscopic imaging and mapping technologies of plant material are described.

Keywords: Phytomics, tissue, instrumentation, data processing, transmission, reflection, hyper spectral imaging, mapping technologies, FTIR, plant material