Visualization of ion movements in plants

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18761
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Agricultural environmental engineering/Agricultural information engineering
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Sugita Ryohei 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 特任助教 (60724747)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: イメージング / RI / ライブイメージング / 元素輸送 / RRIS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand ion movement in plants, we have been developing an live imaging system using radioisotopes. Each ion moves via xylem and phloem in plants. To understand ion transport mechanisms in plants, it is important to study xylem and phloem flow separately. So we tried to visualize only xylem flow using heat girdling treatment. The results show that magnesium was transported mainly via the xylem, while the phloem contribution is scarce. On the other hand, phosphate transport via the phloem was slower than via the xylem.
As a second step, we tried to visualize only xylem flow in rice in dark conditions. Magnesium and calcium transport are not influenced by light. On the other hand, phosphate transport in shoot was sensitively influenced by light. This results show that phosphate was transported via the xylem and phloem. On the other hand, the phloem contributions of magnesium, potassium, calcium, and cesium are scarce.

Free Research Field

農芸化学