Imaging for carbon translocation to a fruit with CO and positron emission tomography

Kawachi, Naoki; Kikuchi, Kaori*; Watabe, Hiroshi*; Suzui, Nobuo; Ishii, Satomi; Ishioka, Noriko; Fujimaki, Shu

Photoassimilate translocation and distribution are important topics for understanding the mechanism of the growth and development of the organ to be harvested. Carbon-11 (C) labeled photoassimilate translocation into fruits of tomato has been imaged using carbon-11-labeled carbon dioxide and the positron emission tomography (PET). Dynamic PET data of gradual increasing of C activity and its distribution is acquired quantitatively in intact plant body. This indicates that the three dimensional photoassimilate translocation into the fruits is imaged successfully and carbon kinetics is analyzed to understand the plant physiology and nutrition.