Use of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to correlate the developmental changes in grape berry tissue structure with water diffusion patterns

Abstract

BackgroundOver the course of grape berry development, the tissues of the berry undergo numerous morphological transformations in response to processes such as water and solute accumulation and cell division, growth and senescence. These transformations are expected to produce changes to the diffusion of water through these tissues detectable using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To assess this non-invasive technique diffusion was examined over the course of grape berry development, and in plant tissues with contrasting oil content.ResultsIn this study, the fruit of Vitis vinfera L. cv. Semillon at seven different stages of berry development, from four weeks post-anthesis to over-ripe, were imaged using diffusion tensor and transverse relaxation MRI acquisition protocols. Variations in diffusive motion between these stages of development were then linked to known events in the morphological development of the grape berry. Within the inner mesocarp of the berry, preferential directions of diffusion became increasingly apparent as immature berries increased in size and then declined as berries progressed through the ripening and senescence phases. Transverse relaxation images showed radial striation patterns throughout the sub-tissue, initiating at the septum and vascular systems located at the centre of the berry, and terminating at the boundary between the inner and outer mesocarp. This study confirms that these radial patterns are due to bands of cells of alternating width that extend across the inner mesocarp. Preferential directions of diffusion were also noted in young grape seed nucelli prior to their dehydration. These observations point towards a strong association between patterns of diffusion within grape berries and the underlying tissue structures across berry development. A diffusion tensor image of a post-harvest olive demonstrated that the technique is applicable to tissues with high oil content.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that diffusion MRI is a powerful and information rich technique for probing the internal microstructure of plant tissues. It was shown that macroscopic diffusion anisotropy patterns correlate with the microstructure of the major pericarp tissues of cv. Semillon grape berries, and that changes in grape berry tissue structure during berry development can be observed.

Fast virtual histology using X-ray in-line phase tomography: application to the 3D anatomy of maize developing seeds

“…Consequently the interest in alternative methods applicable to any type of non-transformed plant organ or tissue is ever increasing. Techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, positon emission tomography, optical coherence tomography or X-ray absorption tomography have been used with various success depending on the size and physical properties of the biological material [ 2 – 7 ].…”

Time-course study of grape berry split using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging

“…This capability has been successfully demonstrated for grape berries in a previous study (Dean et al. ). Thus changes in these values observed in the grape berry immediately preceding, or following, the formation of a split in the berry epidermis could be used as an indication of tissue structure alteration.…”

Erratum to: Use of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to correlate the developmental changes in grape berry tissue structure with water diffusion patterns

“…Unfortunately, the original version of this article [ 1 ] contained an error in Figure 8. In this figure the sub-images have been placed in the wrong order and do not match the corresponding figure legend.…”