DUALEX® SCIENTIFIC

“My research group and I at Warsaw University of Life Sciences have been using the DUALEX® and MULTIPLEX® sensors to detect chlorophyll, anthocyanins and flavonols in green parts and photosynthetic organisms of various reference crops the past two years. I can say that FORCE-A portable fluorometers are much more reliable and accurate than the conventional near-infrared portable sensors currently used in Agriculture and Plant Science industries.

“We have been using the DUALEX® and MULTIPLEX® sensors for the evaluation of potato crop nitrogen status with potential indicators based on leaf flavonoids content, since 2008. We value the technical and analytical skills of the FORCE-A team and recommend their unique fluorescence technology that monitors how a crop is responding to its environment. Most of the other sensors that are commonly used in our Research Center to monitor nitrogen use are only looking at one parameter (i.e. leaf chlorophyll contents) based on transmittance or reflectance readings.

“We, at the University of La Rioja have been working with FORCE-A for over four years. We use their MULTIPLEX® fluorescence sensor for the characterization of grape phenols and anthocyanins. Our studies in commercial vineyards have shown very promising results, with MULTIPLEX®’s ability to non-destructively monitor the accumulation of anthocyanins in the grape skins over the ripening period. The fast and non-destructive nature of the sensor allowed us to this temporal monitoring as well as to characterize the spatial variability of grape anthocyanins and phenols.

“Our research group has used DUALEX®/ MULTIPLEX® sensors of FORCE-A to detect differences in N status of tomato and muskmelon crops. These sensors have been able to consistently detect differences between treatments receiving different rates of N. Two of the most notable aspects of the results were (a) the clear consistent differences between treatments with excessive N, and (b) the early detection of these differences. Much of the focus on the use of optical sensors for N management has been on detecting N deficiencies.

“In our research group (Horticultural Sciences, University of Bonn, Germany) we use both the MULTIPLEX® and DUALEX® units to sense the physiological response of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. Of particular interest is the physiological adaptation of field crops (e.g., barley and sugar beet) and horticultural crops (e.g., tomato, sweet pepper, apple trees, medicinal plants) to water shortage. In addition, we look at the relevance of other factors such as mineral nutrition as well as light intensity and light quality for the plant physiology and product quality.

Mr. Jacob van den Borne, owner of VAN DEN BORNE AARDAPPELEN (potato, sugar beet and corn), uses and recommends the DUALEX SCIENTIFIC™ to monitor the nitrogen of potato with regard to precision agriculture.

My research topics within the R&D of the Roullier group (Timac-Agro International) are mainly focused on plant nutrition with a focus on nitrogen and sulfur metabolism of field crops.

“Since 2009, the « Nello Carrara » Institute of Applied Physics of the Italian National Council of Research established a Scientific Collaboration Agreement with FORCE-A to perform common research activities related to the use of non-invasive optical sensors, and the analysis of the obtained data, for application in agriculture and food quality control. However, my collaboration with some of the founders of FORCE-A company started many years ago, so I can say I saw FORCE-A be born and followed it development.

“I have been using successfully the DUALEX SCIENTIFIC™ and MULTIPLEX RESEARCH™ for 5 years in the framework of 2 national research programs (ANR – GENERGY and Investissements d’Avenir – RAPSODYN) focused on the determination of N status in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The optical sensor was actually used in order to develop a rapid, non-destructive and relevant method for determination of N status at the leaf, plant or canopy levels.”