Real time detection and quantitation of plant innate immunity response using raman spectroscopy

A method of real time detection and quantitation of an innate immunity response in a plant, the method comprising:

• (a) obtaining a Raman spectra of carotenoids and/or proteins in vivo and in situ in tissue of a plant leaf from a plant in a plant population, wherein the Raman spectra includes one or more peaks characteristic of carotenoids and/or proteins;
• (b) obtaining a Raman spectra of carotenoids and/or proteins in vivo and in situ in tissue of a plant leaf from a control plant, wherein the Raman spectra includes one or more peaks characteristic of carotenoids and/or proteins;
• (c) comparing intensity of the one or more peaks characteristic of carotenoids and/or proteins from the Raman spectra obtained from the plant in the plant population with intensity of the one or more peaks characteristic of carotenoids and/or proteins from the Raman spectra obtained from the control plant;
• and
• (d) determining if there is an increase in the relative intensity of one or more peaks characteristic of carotenoids and/or proteins from the Raman spectra obtained from the plant in the plant population,
• wherein an increase in relative intensity of the one or more peaks characteristic of carotenoids and/or proteins from the Raman spectra obtained from the plant in the plant population is indicative of an early stage infection.