Neutron radiography to reveal the interactions of trace elements with plant roots
Hitherto, a lack of non-destructive techniques has hindered the study of the interactions of plant roots with trace elements. Neutron Radiography (NR) quantifies the water distribution in plant-soil systems by exploiting the high neutron cross section of hydrogen. Plant roots typically have a higher water content than the ambient soil and can thus be resolved. Similarly, NR elucidates the water content of, and therefore the water flux through, soil profiles. We tested various plant soil configurations and found that soil with a low organic matter content, and a low to moderate density & water retention capacity provides the best image quality, while providing a suitable medium for plant growth. NR provides the means to study responses of root growth and water uptake to trace elements in soil. For example, we observed root foraging and root avoidance of nickel and boron. NR also shows the effect of roots on the movement of water, which is the vehicle for trace element transport, through soil.
heavy metals phytomanagement phytoremediation heterogeneity
Brett Robinson Ahmad Moradi Hector M. Conesa Eberhard Lehmann Anders Kaestner Rainer Schulin
ETH, Z rich, Switzerland. corresponding author: Brett Robinson ETH, Z rich, Switzerland Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland Varian Medical Systems, Imaging Laboratory, Baden, Switzerland
国际会议
第九届痕量元素生物地球化学国际会议(9th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements)
北京
英文
340-341
2007-07-15（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）