Abstract
Although paramagnetic contrast agents have a wide range of applications in medical studies involving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), these agents are seldom used to enhance MRI images of plant root systems. To extend the application of MRI contrast agents to plant research and to develop related techniques to study root systems, we examined the applicability of the MRI contrast agent Gd-DTPA to the imaging of rice roots. Specifically, we examined the biological effects of various concentrations of Gd-DTPA on rice growth and MRI images. Analysis of electrical conductivity and plant height demonstrated that 5 mmol Gd-DTPA had little impact on rice in the short-term. The results of signal intensity and spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) analysis suggested that 5 mmol Gd-DTPA was the appropriate concentration for enhancing MRI signals. In addition, examination of the long-term effects of Gd-DTPA on plant height showed that levels of this compound up to 5 mmol had little impact on rice growth and (to some extent) increased the biomass of rice.
Highlights
Root systems play an important role in plant nutrition and water absorption, as well as the synthesis and storage of metabolites
The Electrical conductivity (EC) of 5 mmol Gd-treated root samples was the lowest at 6 h, and at 3 h and 9 h, the EC value was lower in samples treated with 5 mmol Gd-DTPA than in the others
It will be best to choose soil medium with fewer paramagnetic elements and homogeneous internal surroundings. This is the first report of imaging the root architecture in rice by non-destructive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using Gd-DTPA as a contrast agent to enhance signals
Summary
Root systems play an important role in plant nutrition and water absorption, as well as the synthesis and storage of metabolites. Examining the structure of the root system in a quantitative manner may lead to an understanding of its function. Compared to aboveground plant structures, roots are difficult to examine due to the complexity of the root growth environment and the limits of research methods and quantitative analysis. In addition,for many years, researchers have paid relatively little attention to the root system. Efficient methods for root research are lacking. Better techniques are needed to study root systems
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