Scientists at Wageningen University have developed an innovative and efficient method for profiling nutritional and toxic element in plant tissues. Traditional approaches to tissue elemental profiling are not only complex but also very expensive. While cheaper alternatives exist, they lack the sensitivity needed to detect light elements like sodium, making them less useful for research into the effects of soil salinization and the impacts of climate change on crops.

This new method, which uses monochromatic X-ray fluorescence (XRF), is cost-effective, rapid, and particularly well-suited for detecting light elements. XRF has already proven extremely useful in Parvinderdeep Kahlon's research on abiotic stress resilience in rice. He is currently studying the effects of multiple stresses on rice elemental profile and yield in a controlled environment. These findings will serve as a baseline for future studies in greenhouses and fields, making XRF an instrumental tool for MiCRop in phase II.