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Vol 14, 2025
Pages: 1 - 11
Original scientific paper
Natural Sciences Editor: Darjana Sredić
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Received: 14.08.2025. Revised: 07.11.2025. >> Accepted: 13.11.2025. >> Published: 21.11.2025. Original scientific paper Natural Sciences Editor: Darjana Sredić

NONDESTRUCTIVE OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY IN PLANT STRESS RESEARCH: CIRCADIAN RHYTHM AS A DIAGNOSTIC MARKER

By
Katarina Miletić Orcid logo ,
Katarina Miletić
Contact Katarina Miletić

Department for Metrology and Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia

Sara Ristić ,
Sara Ristić

Department for Metrology and Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia

Marija Petković Benazzouz Orcid logo ,
Marija Petković Benazzouz

Department for Metrology and Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia

Bećko Kasalica Orcid logo ,
Bećko Kasalica

Department for Metrology and Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia

Dejan Jeremić Orcid logo
Dejan Jeremić

Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Innovation Center of Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia

Abstract

In the context of environmental changes and the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, real-time monitoring of plant health is increasingly important. This work provides an overview of the development and application of nondestructive optical spectroscopy for early detection of stress across a wide range of plant species. The approach combines high-resolution time tracking of leaf transmission with circadian rhythm analysis, allowing the identification of subtle physiological changes that precede visible stress symptoms.

This work presents results from several experimental studies, including hydroponically grown herbs, forest species, aquatic plants, ornamentals, and agricultural crops. The methodology enables the early detection of stress caused by nutritional deficiencies, pathogenic infections, and sudden changes in light intensity. Integration of the 640 nm and 665 nm spectrum bands significantly improved system sensitivity, allowing precise characterisation of metabolic responses. These advances are supported by comprehensive metrological validation, which ensures the repeatability and robustness of the data under experimental conditions.

The lecture highlights circadian rhythm not only as a fundamental biological process, but also as a new diagnostic marker of the physiological state of the plant. Through a variety of case studies and practical applications, we demonstrate how this optical platform contributes to improving understanding the response of plants to stress and offers new perspectives in plant science, forest monitoring, and precision agriculture.

References

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. . (2022). The State of Food and Agriculture 2022: Leveraging agricultural automation for transforming agrifood systems. Rome: FAO.
Gitelson, A. A., Gritz , Y., & Merzlyak, M. N. (2003). Relationships between leaf chlorophyll content and spectral reflectance and algorithms for non-destructive chlorophyll assessment in higher plant leaves. Journal of Plant Physiology, 160(3), 271–282. https://doi.org/10.1078/0176-1617-00887
Kasalica, B. V., Miletic, K. M., Sabovljevic, A. D., Vujicic, M. M., Jeremic, D. A., Belca, I. D., & Petkovic-Benazzouz, M. M. (2021). Nondestructive optical method for plant overall health evaluation. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science, 71(9), 1017–1023. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064710.2021.1928740
Komazec, T. T., Ristić, S. V., Jeremić, D. A., Petković Benazzouz, M. M., & Miletić, K. M. (2024). Real-time optical analysis for monitoring plant adaptability under simulated light shifts. Twenty-Second Young Researchers’ Conference – Materials Science and Engineering.
Kumar, L., Chhogyel, N., Gopalakrishnan, T., Hasan, M. K., Jayasinghe, S. L., Kariyawasam, C. S., Kogo, B. K., & Ratnayake, S. (2022). Chapter 4 - Climate change and future of agri-food production. Future Foods. , 49–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91001-9.00009-8.

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