A study by the University of Eastern Finland, published in Scientific Reports, has used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the impact of the Phytophthora cactorum pathogen, which causes crown rot in strawberries, on the growth and development of strawberry plants. The research found that infected plants showed increased relaxation times within their crowns compared to healthy plants. The findings suggest that MRI could be a valuable tool for monitoring plant health and development, studying the progression of plant diseases, and aiding related research.