Agro-environment

This research theme, developed in collaboration with CIRAD, investigates intermolecular vibrations in plants and develops THz-based tools to study their responses to environmental stresses such as water availability, heavy-metal hyperaccumulation, and circadian cycles.
This work, structured around two main axes, is part of the I-SITE Excellence Program “Nourrir, Soigner, Protéger” (Feed, Care, Protect).

Monitoring Plant Water Status

Although widely used and informative, most conventional methods for measuring water content in plant tissues — such as water potential or relative water content — require damaging or detaching plant organs. These destructive procedures do not allow real-time monitoring of short-term changes in water content under specific stimuli.

Because water strongly absorbs in the THz range, it becomes possible to monitor the dynamics of plant water status in greenhouse environments, and potentially even in the field, using non-destructive THz spectroscopy.

Circadian Rhythm in Plants

The circadian rhythm is a biological cycle in plants with a 24-hour period, influencing various activities such as metabolic processes, physiological functions, and behavioral patterns.

While research on plant rhythms has a long history, the use of THz technologies to study flow dynamics or stomatal opening and closing cycles is entirely new and particularly promising. The high sensitivity of THz spectroscopy makes it possible, for instance, to observe day–night transition dynamics, which are likely linked to the plant’s internal biochemical processes.