Speedy evaluation of simulated Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) on Rice by a non-invasive technique

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is one of the world's worst wastewater pollutions, and it causes a massive threat to crop. In this study, as a way to speedily monitor the effects of AMD on rice and non-destructively, we have used a technique called biospeckle Optical Coherence Tomography (bOCT)and measured after exposing to 40 ml/L and 80 ml/L simulated AMD for 24, 48 and 72 hours and compared the results with conventional physical such as root and shoot lengths and physiological parameters such as enzymes. Comparison revealed that the effects due to the AMD could be seen within 48hrs by bOCT with a decrease in a parameter called bisopeckle contrast which reflects the internal activity of the seeds in comparison to the physical (shoot and root lengths) and physiological parameters such as seed vigor, antioxidative system, iron uptake that appear only after 7 to 10 days. Despite the fast measurement time bOCT, the results agree with conventional indicators with both showing the same tendency. Due to the nature of the non-invasiveness of bOCT and also the possibility of speedy measurements, we expect bOCT has the potential to become an invaluable tool in agriculture not only for investigating the effects of AMD but also pave ways for speedily evaluating the influence of AMD.