Fast detection of leaf pigments and isoprenoids for ecophysiological studies, plant phenotyping and validating remote-sensing of vegetation

Ph.D. student Laura Junker (Ensminger Lab) remains at the top of the Hot Student Paper board with the publication of  “Fast detection of leaf pigments and isoprenoids for ecophysiological studies, plant phenotyping and validating remote-sensing of vegetation” in Physiologia Plantarum. In this paper she describes a simple and cost-effective method for the rapid analysis of chlorophylls, carotenoids and tocopherols using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). She  improved the separation of photosynthetic pigments compared to previously used methods by shortening the run time and inclusion of additional carotenoids such as α-carotene (see image below) and lutein epoxide. This manuscript summarizes the technical details of the developed extraction and HPLC-method and gives many examples for chromatograms taken from species representing interspecific variation as well as samples from species taken under different conditions representing adjustments of the photosynthetic apparatus to environmental conditions.

Congratulations on dominating the HSP board and good luck at your PhD defence!