Provided herein is a method for determining a metabolic state of a plant or part thereof comprising a) rapid evaporating a multitude of metabolites of said plant or part thereof; b) determining the amount of at least one metabolite characteristic of said metabolic state; and c) thereby, determining a metabolic state of a plant thereof. Further provided is a method for in vivo determining a metabolite distribution in a plant or part thereof comprising a) in vivo rapid evaporating at least one metabolite of interest in at least a first and a second location of said plant or part thereof; b) determining the amounts of at least one metabolite at said first and a second location; and, c) thereby, in vivo determining metabolite distribution in a plant or part thereof. Moreover, provided are devices, data collections, and uses relating to the aforesaid methods.
