~IIT Gandhinagar and the Regional Centre for Biotechnology have developed novel fluorescent probes that enable faster, more precise and highly selective imaging of plant xylem, advancing research in plant biology and crop resilience.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, July 27 (VNI): Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, have developed a new class of fluorescent probes that enables scientists to visualise xylem—the specialised tissue responsible for transporting water and minerals in plants—with greater precision than conventional staining methods. The study, published in Plant and Cell Physiology, is expected to strengthen research on plant development, vascular biology and crop resilience under environmental stress.
According to IITGN, traditional dyes used for xylem imaging often stain multiple plant tissues, making it difficult for researchers to distinguish xylem from surrounding structures. The newly developed pyridinium-based fluorescent probes, particularly C1 and C3, selectively stain xylem, producing sharper and more specific images. The probes were successfully tested on Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana benthamiana and Allium fistulosum, demonstrating superior performance over existing dyes.
The researchers also found that the new probes require significantly lower concentrations than commonly used propidium iodide. While propidium iodide requires 375 micromolar concentration for clear imaging, the new dyes achieved similar results at just 25 micromolar—about 15 times less. Lower dye concentration and reduced laser power also minimise photobleaching and background staining, improving image quality. The probes additionally provided clearer visualisation of damaged xylem vessels in the Arabidopsis eskimo1 mutant, which is commonly used to study vascular defects.
Professor Sriram Kanvah of IITGN said the project combined molecular design, spectroscopy and plant biology to create imaging probes tailored for biological research, while Assistant Professor Dr Subramanian Sankaranarayanan noted that the work focuses on providing plant scientists with more sensitive and specific research tools. The team believes that with further refinement, the probes could eventually be adapted for live plant imaging, allowing researchers to observe the formation and functioning of water-conducting tissues in real time. VNI NEWS, IIT Gandhinagar, IITGN, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Xylem Imaging, Fluorescent Probes, Plant and Cell Physiology, Plant Research, Crop Resilience, IITGN Research, Xylem, Plant Biology, Plant Imaging, Crop Science, Arabidopsis, Gandhinagar News, Science News, Research Innovation