Recent Advances in Radioisotope Imaging Technology for Plant Science Research in Japan

Jun Furukawa,Nobuo Suzui,Keitaro Tanoi,Naoki Kawachi

doi:10.3390/qubs3030018

Abstract

Soil provides most of the essential elements required for the growth of plants. These elements are absorbed by the roots and then transported to the leaves via the xylem. Photoassimilates and other nutrients are translocated from the leaves to the maturing organs via the phloem. Non-essential elements are also transported via the same route. Therefore, an accurate understanding of the movement of these elements across the plant body is of paramount importance in plant science research. Radioisotope imaging is often utilized to understand element kinetics in the plant body. Live plant imaging is one of the recent advancements in this field. In this article, we recapitulate the developments in radioisotope imaging technology for plant science research in Japanese research groups. This collation provides useful insights into the application of radioisotope imaging technology in wide domains including plant science.

Highlights

As the plant body absorbs and accumulates various elements present in the soil and air, accurate monitoring of element kinetics is essential to understand their physiology
In nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) involve radiotracers designed to congregate at specific sites
As each of the plant imaging techniques aims to acquire the in vivo kinetics of the target element, a contactless approach is critical

Summary

Introduction

As the plant body absorbs and accumulates various elements present in the soil and air, accurate monitoring of element kinetics is essential to understand their physiology. In nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) involve radiotracers designed to congregate at specific sites. This implies that the imaging apparatus must quickly identify the point where the positron-emitting nuclides (11C and 18F) aggregate. The investigations in plant sciences require an imaging system capable of covering a wide variety of elements. This is the central focus in the development of plant RI imaging technologies. For plant imaging experiments, multiple highly versatile technologies are required rather than one state-of-the-art technology for a specific application

RI Imaging Technologies for Plant Science

Beta-Rays Imaging

Findings

Gamma Camera Imaging