Development of technologies for automatic measurement and non-destructive observation of stomata in Arabidopsis thaliana

A team of researchers led by Drs. Momoko Takagi and Yosuke Toda (concurrently affiliated with phytometrics co. ltd.) at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM) at Nagoya University, part of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, in collaboration with Drs. Rikako Hirata and Akira Mine at the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, have developed an image analysis algorithm for automatic quantification of stomatal aperture in Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as a portable imaging device for non-destructive observation of stomata using intact plants.

Stomata are pores on the surfaces of plant leaves that open or close in response to changes in the environment. Although Arabidopsis thaliana is a widely used model organism for studying the role of stomata in plant environmental responses, measuring stomatal aperture  in this model plant with small stomata is a daunting task.

The research team has developed an image analysis algorithm that can automatically measure A. thaliana stomatal aperture, taking 140 times less time than manual measurement while maintaining the same accuracy. The research team also developed a portable imaging device that can capture stomatal images by pinching a leaf with the help of image acquisition software, making it possible to observe stomata using intact plants. These technologies allow for rapid and reliable measurement of subtle changes in stomatal aperture in response to light, chemicals, and microorganisms. The research results were published online in the journal "Plant & Cell Physiology" on March 20, 2023.