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

Publication date: Available online 9 March 2018 Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects Author(s): 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 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 ...

Source: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) General Subjects - March 10, 2018 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research