We have been studying color, shape, and spectroscopic analysis on biological products and plants. Here we introduce the X-ray, UV-VIS (ultraviolet-visible), NIR (near-infrared) and MIR (mid-infrared) spectroscopic analysis being done in our laboratory for about ten years. We have mainly studied the MIR spectroscopy that presents fundamental vibrational modes of the corresponding chemical groups in the most major components of biological products and plants. In parallel with the development of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) technology, various sampling techniques, for example; attenuated total reflection (ATR), diffuse reflection, and photoacoustic methods, have evolved, and provide FT-IR spectroscopy with substantial potential as a qualitative and quantitative analytical tool for biological and food processing.

Firstly, the recent developments in MIR spectroscopy, particularly FT-IR/ATR methods, are taken an overview of sugars focusing on its applications to qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological products and plants. Additionally, the applications of FT-IR/ATR methods to monitoring of the cultivation processes are pointed out. These could represent an important step in the development of nonintensive on-line monitoring devices for bioprocesses. The second one is the topic on the UV-VIS, NIR, MIR and fluorescent spectroscopic analysis of acid and sugar component in fruit (Satsuma mandarin; Citrus unshu) juice. In this project, we compare their characteristics and demonstrate the various possibilities of the spectroscopic applications to the simultaneous determination. Third and last one is the ongoing project on the evaluation of the balance of the ionic components in plants by the fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy. The combinational and simultaneous utilization of the above spectroscopic methods could determine the most of the organic and inorganic components in biological products and evaluate the nutrient conditions of plants.