Mass spectrometry imaging for direct visualization of components in plants tissues

Mass spectrometry is considered the most informative technique for components identification and has been widely adopted in plant sciences. However, the spatial distribution of compounds in the plant, which is vital for the exploration of plant physiological mechanisms, is missed in MS analysis. In recent years, mass spectrometry imaging has brought a great breakthrough in plant analysis because it can determine both the molecular compositions and spatial distributions, which is conducive to understand functions and regulation pathways of specific components in plants. Mass spectrometry imaging analysis of plant tissue is toward high sensitivity, high spatial resolution, and even single-cell analysis. Despite many challenges and technical barriers, such as difficulties of sample pretreatment caused by morphological diversity of plant tissues, obstacles for high spatial resolution imaging, and so on, lots of researches have contributed to remarkable progress, including improvement in tissue preparation, matrix innovation, and ionization mode development. This review focuses on the advances of mass spectrometry imaging analysis of plants in the last 5 years, including commonly used ionization techniques, technical advances, and recent applications of mass spectrometry imaging in plants.

Automated summary

Mass spectrometry imaging is an important analytical technique in plant science that can determine molecular compositions and spatial distributions simultaneously, aiding in understanding the functions and regulatory pathways of components in plants. Despite facing challenges and technical barriers, significant progress has been made in areas such as tissue preparation improvement, matrix innovation, and ionization mode development.