Plant fluorometer for remote detection of growth dynamics

Abstract

An apparatus for remote detection of plant growth dynamics is described. The apparatus includes an excitation LED (light emitting diode) module, a detection module and a controller module coupled to the excitation LED module and the detection module. The excitation LED module includes at least one LED. Each LED is configured to emit an excitation light in response to an excitation control signal. The excitation light has an emitted light spectrum. The detection module includes a photodetector configured to detect an initial chlorophyll a fluorescence (“ChlF”) light and an excited ChlF light from a plant species. The photodetector is further configured to convert the detected initial ChlF light into an initial detection electrical signal and the detected excited ChlF light into an excited detection electrical signal. The excited ChlF light is emitted from the plant species in response to receiving the excitation light. The controller module is configured to provide the excitation control signal to the excitation module, to capture the initial and excited detection electrical signals from the detection module and to determine chlorophyll fluorescence data based, at least in part, on the initial and excited detection electrical signals. The excitation LED module and the detection module are configured to be positioned remotely from the plant species. The chlorophyll fluorescence data represents a growth characteristic of the plant species.