Exploring the Agricultural Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Challenge: 
How to use innovative MRI technology to monitor plant health and early disease detection in crops

Solution:
Develop portable, cost-effective MRI systems for agricultural applications to monitor plant growth and detect diseases early

Impact:
Potential to revolutionize crop management and plant phenotyping, reducing crop losses and increasing yields by providing non-invasive internal plant health monitoring

As the world seeks new ways to increase agricultural efficiency, Dan Xiao, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Windsor, is pushing the boundaries of traditional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) applications to benefit the agricultural sector.  

The University of Windsor worked alongside industry partner the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), who focus on research, food safety, energy, environment, and marketing for our members. Thus, OGVG strives to support the Ontario greenhouse vegetable sector and its grower members, however possible. When the request to collaborate with the University of Windsor on this project came up, Richard Lee, Executive Director of OGVG, knew they wanted to participate to gain insights into plant physiology, which can help increase yield in the future for growers.  

Figure 1. Image of MRI scanner the University of Windsor constructed for this GTN project.
Figure 1. Image of MRI scanner the University of Windsor constructed for this GTN project.

“The Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN) funding has been pivotal in advancing our research into portable MRI technology for agriculture. Their support provided the essential resources needed to innovate and address critical challenges in plant health monitoring. This collaboration has accelerated our progress, allowing us to develop solutions that have the potential to transform crop management and reduce agricultural losses,” said Richard Lee. 

Supported by the University of Windsor and funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Xiao’s research is leveraging MRI technology to monitor plant growth and detect diseases, helping to optimize crop production and reduce losses.  

Xiao’s journey into agricultural MRI began during the COVID-19 pandemic when she discovered her love for gardening. Inspired by her newfound passion, she began investigating how MRI could be applied to the plant world, particularly for monitoring internal structures and detecting diseases in fruits like tomatoes. “As a gardener, I wanted to know how to make my tomatoes grow better. That’s how it all started”, Xiao recalls.  

Traditionally, MRI systems are bulky, expensive, and designed for medical use—however, Xiao’s team is working on making MRI more affordable and portable, designed more specifically for agricultural applications. “We’ve developed smaller, cheaper MRI devices that can be used in fields to monitor plant health without the need for large, stationary machines,” said Xiao. This technology could allow for real-time plant growth and health monitoring, helping farmers detect diseases early and make more informed decisions.  

“This collaboration has accelerated our progress, allowing us to develop solutions that have the potential to transform crop management and reduce agricultural losses.”

~ Richard Lee, Executive Director, OGVG

The major advantage of MRI is its ability to non-invasively visualize the internal structures with rich soft tissue contrast, enabling the detection of diseases before they manifest on the plant’s surface. “One of our students discovered a fungal infection in tomatoes that starts internally and spreads outward. By the time you see signs on the outside, it’s often too late,” Xiao explained. “With MRI, we can detect these infections early, allowing farmers to take action before the disease spreads.” 

This innovation can potentially reduce crop losses, particularly in fruits and vegetables prone to internal diseases. It could also be incorporated into packing lines for quality control. The ability to monitor plants non-invasively also opens the door to a better understanding of plant physiology and how plants respond to environmental factors such as water, nutrients and light.  

The potential applications of this technology extend beyond tomatoes. Xiao’s team is exploring how MRI can be used to study water movement within plants, monitor seedling growth, and even track how nutrients are transported through plant stems. This technology could revolutionize plant phenotyping by providing detailed, real-time insights into plant health and development.  

Figure 2. A different angle and close-up of a tomato inside of the MRI scanner the University of Windsor constructed for this GTN project.
Figure 2. A different angle and close-up of a tomato inside of the MRI scanner the University of Windsor constructed for this GTN project.

Xiao is quick to point out that her work is only possible with collaboration. “We’ve been fortunate to have the support of the research community, and I’ve made friends with plant scientists who guide us on what agricultural problems need solving,” she says. In addition to her collaborations with plant scientists, Xiao is also working with students from the University of Windsor’s Outstanding Scholars Program and the Ignite Workstudy program, who are helping to develop MRI instruments and methodologies.  

“We hope to make these MRI systems affordable enough that research facilities and possibly even farmers can use them to monitor plant health,” said Xiao.  

While technology is still in its early stages, she believes it has the potential to impact the agricultural industry significantly. “I’m not sure how many farmers are interested in looking at the internal anatomy of a tomato just yet, but I believe this technology could be invaluable to researchers studying plant physiology and disease resistance,” she says.  

The development of affordable, portable MRI systems for agriculture could help farmers optimize growing conditions, reduce water and nutrient use, and increase crop yields. The technology could also help researchers better understand how plants respond to environmental stressors, leading to more resilient crops in the face of climate change.  

As her team continues to refine their MRI technology, they are eager to collaborate with more experts in the field. “I have this tool that can do a lot, but I need to know the agricultural pain points. I’m always open to new collaborations and learning more about what’s needed in the field,” she said. 

To learn more about Xiao’s innovative research, visit the University of Windsor’s research office. If you are interested in discussing your organization’s needs with the Greenhouse Technology Network, please get in touch with us at [email protected]