LAUSR

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key regulators of numerous subcellular, cellular and systemic signals. They function in plants as an integral part of many different hormonal, physiological and developmental pathways, as well as play a critical role in defense and acclimation responses to different biotic and abiotic conditions. Although many ROS imaging techniques have been developed and utilized in plants, a whole-plant imaging platform for the dynamic detection of ROS in mature plants is lacking. Here we describe a robust and straightforward method for the whole-plant live imaging of ROS in mature plants grown in soil. The new method could be used to study local and systemic ROS signals in different genetic variants, conduct phenotyping studies to identify new pathways for ROS signaling, monitor the stress level of different plants and mutants, and unravel novel routes of ROS integration into stress, growth regulation and development in plants. We demonstrate the utility of the new method for the study of systemic ROS signals in different mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as for the study of wound responses in wheat and corn.