Hyperspectral and photodiode retrievals of nighttime LED-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (LEDIF) for tracking photosynthetic phenology in a vineyard

Authors: WONG, CHRISTOPHER - University Of California, Davis; MCHUGH, DEVIN - University Of California, Davis; BAMBACH, NICOLAS - University Of California, Davis; McElrone, Andrew; ALSINA, MIMAR - E & J Gallo Winery; KUSTAS, WILLIAM - University Of California, Davis; MAGNEY, TROY - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/29/2023
Publication Date: 12/29/2023
Citation: Wong, C., Mchugh, D., Bambach, N., McElrone, A.J., Alsina, M., Kustas, W., Magney, T. 2023. Hyperspectral and photodiode retrievals of nighttime LED-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (LEDIF) for tracking photosynthetic phenology in a vineyard. Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences. 129. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007742.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007742

Interpretive Summary: The magnitude of chlorophyll fluorescence emission represents both chlorophyll content and energy quenching processes enabling its application to serve as a proxy of photosynthetic activity. Thus, there is interest in advancing methods for canopy-scale monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence. Remotely sensed solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) retrievals offer daytime monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence, which can serve as an indicator of photosynthesis. However, it represents an instantaneous measurement during the day, which is strongly influenced by incoming radiation, solar angle, and sun/shade fraction making it difficult to tease out baseline information on plant health – which could be tracked by changes in fluorescence yield (independent of sunlight). Recent advances have demonstrated the potential for inducing nighttime chlorophyll fluorescence via LED light sources at the canopy-scale, which can be retrieved as LED-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (LEDIF), potentially serving as a baseline indicator of plant health and seasonal photochemical activity independent of daytime conditions. In this study, we explored two methods of LEDIF retrievals: 1) a hyperspectral sensor (2nm full-width half max) and 2) a low-cost Red-Far-Red photodiode sensor. LEDIF retrieved by the hyperspectral sensor demonstrated strong correlations with daytime SIF and gross primary productivity (GPP) during mid to end of season phenology (R2 > 0.70). In contrast, LEDIF retrieved by the photodiode sensor was more limited, likely due to weaker signal-to-noise-ratio, but still demonstrated some potential. Overall, LEDIF offers a technique to monitor nighttime steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence emission (and changes in its spectral shape with a hyperspectral sensor) to assess end of season phenology of canopy-scale photosynthetic activity.

Technical Abstract: The magnitude of chlorophyll fluorescence emission represents both chlorophyll content and energy quenching processes enabling its application to serve as a proxy of photosynthetic activity. Thus, there is interest in advancing methods for canopy-scale monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence. Remotely sensed solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) retrievals offer daytime monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence, which can serve as an indicator of photosynthesis. However, it represents an instantaneous measurement during the day, which is strongly influenced by incoming radiation, solar angle, and sun/shade fraction making it difficult to tease out baseline information on plant health – which could be tracked by changes in fluorescence yield (independent of sunlight). Recent advances have demonstrated the potential for inducing nighttime chlorophyll fluorescence via LED light sources at the canopy-scale, which can be retrieved as LED-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (LEDIF), potentially serving as a baseline indicator of plant health and seasonal photochemical activity independent of daytime conditions. In this study, we explored two methods of LEDIF retrievals: 1) a hyperspectral sensor (2nm full-width half max) and 2) a low-cost Red-Far-Red photodiode sensor. LEDIF retrieved by the hyperspectral sensor demonstrated strong correlations with daytime SIF and gross primary productivity (GPP) during mid to end of season phenology (R2 > 0.70). In contrast, LEDIF retrieved by the photodiode sensor was more limited, likely due to weaker signal-to-noise-ratio, but still demonstrated some potential. Overall, LEDIF offers a technique to monitor nighttime steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence emission (and changes in its spectral shape with a hyperspectral sensor) to assess end of season phenology of canopy-scale photosynthetic activity.