There has been an increasing interest in
using non-destructive thermal imagery to determine leaf
temperature of plants. Leaf temperature has been proven as
an indicator of plant responses to various stressors (CHAERLE
and VAN DER STRAETEN 2000), in particular for plant water
availability (JONES 1999). The theory is that a reduced
stomatal aperture restricts transpiration and consequently
heat dissipation, resulting in an increase in leaf temperature
(GATES 1964).