Particle-Based Imaging Tools Revealing Water Flows in Maize Nodal Vascular Plexus

In plants, water flows are the major driving force behind growth and play a crucial role in the life cycle. To study hydrodynamics, methods based on tracking small particles inside water flows attend a special place. Thanks to these tools, it is possible to obtain information about the dynamics of the spatial distribution of the flux characteristics. In this paper, using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we show that gadolinium chelate, used as an MRI contrast agent, marks the structural characteristics of the xylem bundles of maize stem nodes and internodes. Supplementing MRI data, the high-precision visualization of xylem vessels by laser scanning microscopy was used to reveal the structural and dimensional characteristics of the stem vascular system. In addition, we propose the concept of using prototype Y-type xylem vascular connection as a model of the elementary connection of vessels within the vascular system. A Reynolds number could match the microchannel model with the real xylem vessels.

Automated summary

Water flows in plants are crucial for growth and play a significant role in the life cycle. This paper explores hydrodynamics using methods that track small particles within water flows. The authors used contrast-enhanced MRI and laser scanning microscopy to analyze the structural and dimensional characteristics of the xylem bundles in maize stems.