Noninvasive analysis of photoassimilate translocation in tomato leaves under the dark condition by using CO and a positron-emitting tracer imaging system

Suwa, Ryuichi*; Ishii, Satomi; Suzui, Nobuo; Ishioka, Noriko; Fujimaki, Shu; Matsuhashi, Shimpei; Fujita, Konosuke*; Kawachi, Naoki

Recently, Kawachi et al. (2006) established a method for the kinetic analysis of CO for studying photoassimilate transport in a leaf, using PETIS. The method quantitatively analyzes the photoassimilate transport under various light conditions. However, it is important to analyze photoassimilate transport under both dark and light conditions because leaves transport carbon under both these conditions (Mullen et al., 1988). In the present study, we developed a new method to analyze photoassimilate translocation, using PETIS, and CO. This novel method clarified the mechanism underlying photoassimilate translocation from a leaf under the dark condition by noninvasive, repeated imaging experiments, using the same specimen.