Molecular Imaging for Plant Physiology (5); Carbon translocation in a whole plant body by using positron emitting tracer imaging system and ¹¹CO₂

Abstract

Comprehension of plant carbon kinetics is important for understanding of plant growth and development. Here we speak about an improved method regarding the positron-emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS) and carbon-11-labeled carbon dioxide (¹¹CO₂) for analyzing the carbon kinetics in soybean plants. The method enables quantitative imaging of plant carbon during the translocation of leaf photoassimilate carbon into sink organs. The modification of the method kept the total amount of carbon during imaging to enable absolutely quantitative analysis of sink-source carbon kinetics. Based on feasibility study, we will discuss how the modified method is useful for carbon kinetics in soybean plants.