Study of the morphological and functional state of higher plant tissues by optical coherence microscopy and optical coherence tomography

Comparative analysis of two optical methods-optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence microscopy (OCM)-was made for vital visualization of plant tissues in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D. Hunt), orach (Atriplex sp.), and leaves and seeds of medium starwort (Stellaria media L.). The obtained OCT- and OCM-images allowed the morphological and functional state of plant tissues to be assessed in vivo. A higher spatial resolution of the OCM method, as compared to OCT method, allowed plant morphological structures to be identified with greater confidence. The morphological and functional state of tissues can be monitored with a time resolution of 1-4 s in intact plants, without removing them from the habitat.