Hyperspectral signatures reveal hidden stress in soybean caused by residual nicosulfuron

Abstract

Residual nicosulfuron in soil can induce persistent phytotoxic effects on subsequent soybean (Glycine max L.) crops, yet the physiological trajectory from early stress to photosynthetic collapse remains unclear. Here, we established a multimodal phenotyping framework that integrates hyperspectral reflectance, ultraviolet-excited multichannel fluorescence, and chlorophyll fluorescence quenching imaging to capture stage-specific soybean responses under nicosulfuron stress. Early pigment disruption was marked by a 12.3% decrease in the chlorophyll index 3, while metabolic activation was indicated by an increase in fluorescence at 450 nm to 3.26 ± 0.16 at 100 μg/kg, compared to 2.05 ± 0.05 in the control group. These were followed by photosystem II (PSII) dysfunction, including a decline in the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII under light adaptation (Fv/Fm_Lss) from 0.71 to 0.37, a 102% increase in non-photochemical quenching under light adaptation (NPQ_Lss), and a 38% reduction in maximum fluorescence under light adaptation (Fm_Lss), reflecting photosystem disintegration. Such impairments culminated in a marked elevation of the Integrated Biomarker Response version 2. This study identifies a distinct injury-regulation-collapse pathway and phase-specific markers, while the integrated imaging approach enables earlier, non-invasive detection and dynamic monitoring, providing a mechanistic basis for risk assessment in herbicide-impacted rotation systems.

Keywords

chlorophyll fluorescence / hidden stress detection / hyperspectral imaging / multi-modal phenotyping / residual nicosulfuron / soybean

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