Developing a system for in vivo imaging of maize roots containing iodinated contrast media in soil using synchrotron XCT and XRF

Journal Article · 09 December 2020 · Plant and Soil

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04784-x · OSTI ID:1755888

Scotson, Callum P. ^[1]; van Veelen, Arjen  ^[2]; Williams, Katherine A. ^[1]; Koebernick, Nicolai ^[3]; McKay Fletcher, Dan ^[1]; Roose, Tiina  ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Southampton (United Kingdom)
2. Univ. of Southampton (United Kingdom); Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States). Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL)
3. Univ. of Southampton (United Kingdom); Martin Luther Univ. Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Germany)

We sought to develop a novel experimental system which enabled application of iodinated contrast media to in vivo plant roots intact in soil and was compatible with time-resolved synchrotron X-ray computed tomography imaging. The system was developed to overcome issues of low contrast to noise within X-ray computed tomography images of plant roots and soil environments, the latter of which can complicate image processing and result in the loss of anatomical information. To demonstrate the efficacy of the system we employ the novel use of both synchrotron X-ray computed tomography and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping to capture the translocation of the contrast media through root vasculature into the leaves. With the application of contrast media we identify fluid flow in root vasculature and visualise anatomical features, which are otherwise often only observable in ex vivo microscopy, including: the xylem, metaxylem, pith, fibres in aerenchyma and leaf venation. We are also able to observe interactions between aerenchyma cross sectional area and solute transport in the root vasculature with depth. Our novel system was capable of successfully delivering sufficient contrast media into root and leaf tissues such that anatomical features could be visualised and internal fluid transport observed. We propose that our system could be used in future to study internal plant transport mechanisms and parameterise models for fluid flow in plants.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); Engineering and Physical Sciences Resource Council (EPSRC); European Research Council (ERC); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001; AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 1755888
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--20-24803
• Journal Information: Plant and Soil, Journal Name: Plant and Soil Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 460; ISSN 0032-079X
• Publisher: SpringerCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English