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| Home > Publications database > 11C-labelling in combination with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for investigating carbon transport dynamics in complex root systems |
| Home > Publications database > 11C-labelling in combination with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for investigating carbon transport dynamics in complex root systems |
| Conference Presentation (After Call) | FZJ-2024-05874 |
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2024
Abstract: The plastic response of a plant to environmental changes enhances its ability to avoid environmental constraints, and hence supports growth, reproduction, and evolutionary and agricultural success. Non-invasive imaging methods, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) have allowed for major progress in understanding root structural development. The underlying dynamics of the carbon transport and allocation within the root system, however, is still not understood in detail and sometimes similar and constant flow of carbon (C) in all roots is assumed for the lack of detailed data. Our development of a 11C-PET facility supported by MRI aims at routine tracking of short-lived C isotope tracer dynamically, non-invasively and in 3D within the root system. This allows analysing tracer flow in different roots at the same time and over days and weeks of development. The 11C tracer is applied non-invasively to the plant leaves as 11CO2 and imaged by a dedicated PET system (‘phenoPET’) built in-house that was installed in a climate chamber with full environmental control. The field of view of the system is 18 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height.The root systems of several maize plants were analysed for tracer flow velocities and allocation patterns. We found significant differences in tracer flow velocity between root types and during root growth, as well as diurnal rhythms and a strong impact of lateral root formation. Our results highlight the advantages of 11C--PET for non-invasively quantifying the dynamics in C transport. The dynamics within root systems are more complex than hitherto expected.
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