Near-infrared fluorescence imaging for vascular visualization and fungal detection in plants

We found that heptamethine dye IR-820 showed distinct emission peaks in both the NIR-Ia and NIR-Ib windows. IR-820 yielded images of vascular structures in the NIR-Ib window with unprecedented details. NIR-Ib fluorescence imaging was useful not only for studying plant transpiration, but also for detecting and differentiating fungal pathogens.