15O-Labeled and18F-labeled water uptake manner in a soybean plant was compared by PETIS (Positron Emitting Tracer Imaging System) . 15O-Labeled water (half-life: 110 min) and18F-labeled water (half-life: 2 min) was produced by a cyclotron by14N (d, n) 15O and16O (α, pn) 18F reactions, respectively. A root of a soybean plant was cut off and each labeled water was supplied from the basal part of the plant. The gamma-rays emitted from the sample was measured by a BGO counter with a detection area of 5 cm × 15 cm. The radioactivity from each stem was accumulated every 15 s till 20 min. It was found that18F-labeled water was taken up much faster than15O-labeled water, suggesting that in18F-labeled water, fluorine was moved in the form of18F-ion. When BAS image of15O-labeled water in a plant after 5 min and 10 min of water supply was taken, it was found that the labeled water was observed only in the lowest internode, between a root and the first leaves.
We performed visualizing of water uptake manner in a living plant by the neutron beam imaging. We reeled soybean seeds with or without aluminum in the aluminum containers and irradiated with thermal neutrons. We took neutron images through a CCD camera once a day for 4 days. We analyzed the spacial water distribution in the vicinity of a soybean root imbedded in soil by computer-assisted CT images. An accumulation of water to a root was shown through image analysis and its movement was especially high around the site where side roots developed. It was also shown that water holding activity was reduced when Al was added to the soil.
Concentrations of 4 trace elements, Mg, K, Ca and Mn, in each tissues of Japanese morning glory were analyzed during the flower development. To determine the element amount, neutron activation analysis with gamma-ray spectroscopy was performed. In this study, we focused on the movement of the trace elements especially with shortday treatment. Each element showed its specific distribution in the parts of a plant. The concentration of each element was changed rhythmically within a day. It was noted that, in the apical bud, concentrations of Mg, Ca and Mn were decreased from 5 h (2 h before light was on) to 7 h and increased again after 9 h.