Imaging linear and circular polarization features in leaves with complete Mueller matrix polarimetry

C. H.Lucas Patty*, David A. Luo, Frans Snik, Freek Ariese, Wybren Jan Buma, Inge Loes ten Kate, Rob J.M. van Spanning, William B. Sparks, Thomas A. Germer, Győző Garab, Michael W. Kudenov

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Spectropolarimetry of intact plant leaves allows to probe the molecular architecture of vegetation photosynthesis in a non-invasive and non-destructive way and, as such, can offer a wealth of physiological information. In addition to the molecular signals due to the photosynthetic machinery, the cell structure and its arrangement within a leaf can create and modify polarization signals. Using Mueller matrix polarimetry with rotating retarder modulation, we have visualized spatial variations in polarization in transmission around the chlorophyll a absorbance band from 650 nm to 710 nm. We show linear and circular polarization measurements of maple leaves and cultivated maize leaves and discuss the corresponding Mueller matrices and the Mueller matrix decompositions, which show distinct features in diattenuation, polarizance, retardance and depolarization. Importantly, while normal leaf tissue shows a typical split signal with both a negative and a positive peak in the induced fractional circular polarization and circular dichroism, the signals close to the veins only display a negative band. The results are similar to the negative band as reported earlier for single macrodomains. We discuss the possible role of the chloroplast orientation around the veins as a cause of this phenomenon. Systematic artefacts are ruled out as three independent measurements by different instruments gave similar results. These results provide better insight into circular polarization measurements on whole leaves and options for vegetation remote sensing using circular polarization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1350-1363
Number of pages14
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects
Volume1862
Issue number6
Early online date9 Mar 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2018

Funding

This work was supported by the Planetary and Exoplanetary Science Programme (PEPSci), grant 648.001.004, of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). We acknowledge Colleen Doherty, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, for providing us with the maize samples.

FundersFunder number
Planetary and Exoplanetary Science Programme
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek648.001.004

    Keywords

    • Chlorophyll a
    • Chloroplast
    • Circular dichroism
    • Mueller matrix polarimetry
    • Photosynthesis

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Imaging linear and circular polarization features in leaves with complete Mueller matrix polarimetry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this