Carbon kinetic analysis in a soybean plant by using newly developed real-time whole-plant imaging method with positron emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS)

Kawachi, Naoki; Suzui, Nobuo; Ishii, Satomi; Yamazaki, Haruaki; Iwasaki, Aya*; Ogawa, Kenichi*; Fujimaki, Shu

Elucidation of carbon kinetics in a higher plant, in particular photosynthetic carbon dioxide (CO) fixation and photoassimilate translocation, is important from viewpoint of environmental reduction in the amounts of atmospheric CO and from an agricultural viewpoint of the growth and development of the plant body. Previously, we have reported that whole-plant imaging for studying the complete carbon kinetics involved in photosynthesis and subsequent photoassimilate translocation and unloading. It was achieved using a positron emitting tracer imaging system (PETIS) in combination with carbon-11-labeled carbon dioxide (CO) gas tracer. In this study, real-time carbon kinetics in leaves, roots and other organs of a soybean was analyzed by using the newly developed method.