Visualization and quantitative analysis of endosperm cavities in maize kernels via X-ray micro-computed tomography.

IF 5.2 2区生物学 Q1 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Plant Methods Pub Date : 2026-07-25 DOI:10.1186/s13007-026-01560-3

Xuebo Yin, Yu Jiang, Shengxi Hou, Jiayu Sun, Mei Huang, Yingxin Zhong, Jian Cai, Xiao Wang, Qin Zhou, Tingbo Dai, Dong Jiang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Endosperm cavities within maize kernels influence quality traits such as kernel plumpness and hardness, serving as a key phenotypic indicator for assessing maize yield and quality. Research on endosperm cavities remains relatively scarce due to the small size of maize kernels and limitations in technical approaches. This study employed X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) three-dimensional reconstruction technology to extract morphological parameters and spatial configurations of endosperm cavities in multiple maize varieties, enabling visualisation and quantification of endosperm cavities within maize kernels.

Results: Endosperm cavities exhibit spatial heterogeneity within the kernels: embryo-adjacent cavities (EACs) are distributed in a conical pattern around the embryo, whereas internal endosperm cavities (IECs) are located in the floury endosperm at the tip region of the kernel and exhibit a boat-shaped morphology. The volume ratio of EACs to IECs is approximately 5:1. A coordinate system was established with the kernel length axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, revealing the spatial positions of IECs (x = 3.5 mm, y = 2.1 mm, z = 1.1 mm) and EACs (x = 2.5 mm, y = 2.3 mm, z = 7.1 mm). Significant differences in endosperm cavity characteristics were observed among the different varieties. The average volume of the endosperm cavities was 4.1 mm³, with kernel porosities ranging from 0.4% to 3.3%. These parameters exhibited highly significant positive correlations with kernel volume, kernel thickness, cavity surface density, etc. Although manual sectioning methods cannot capture the 3D features of endosperm cavities, their operational simplicity and rapid data extraction allow them to reflect, to some extent, the characteristics of endosperm cavities across different maize varieties, as confirmed by this study.

Conclusion: This study elucidates the morphology and spatial distribution of endosperm cavities, revealing significant varietal differences in cavity characteristics that correlate with grain morphological traits. These findings lay the groundwork for research into maize grain digital characterisation and the relationship between grain structure and function.

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利用x射线微计算机断层成像技术对玉米籽粒胚乳腔的可视化和定量分析。

背景：玉米籽粒内胚乳空腔影响籽粒丰满度和硬度等品质性状，是评价玉米产量和品质的关键表型指标。由于玉米籽粒体积小以及技术手段的限制，对胚乳腔的研究相对较少。本研究利用x射线微计算机断层扫描（μCT）三维重建技术提取了多个玉米品种胚乳腔的形态参数和空间构型，实现了玉米籽粒内胚乳腔的可视化和定量。结果：胚乳腔在籽粒内具有空间异质性：胚邻腔（EACs）在胚周围呈圆锥形分布，而胚乳内腔（IECs）位于籽粒顶端的粉质胚乳内，呈船形形态。eac与iec的体积比约为5:1。建立了以核长轴垂直于水平面的坐标系，给出了IECs （x = 3.5 mm, y = 2.1 mm, z = 1.1 mm）和EACs （x = 2.5 mm, y = 2.3 mm, z = 7.1 mm）的空间位置。不同品种的胚乳腔特征差异显著。胚乳腔的平均体积为4.1 mm3，仁孔率为0.4% ~ 3.3%。这些参数与果仁体积、果仁厚度、空腔表面密度等均呈极显著正相关。虽然手工切片方法无法捕捉到胚乳腔的三维特征，但其操作简单、数据提取快速，在一定程度上反映了不同玉米品种胚乳腔的特征，这一点得到了本研究的证实。结论：本研究阐明了胚乳腔的形态和空间分布特征，揭示了胚乳腔特征与籽粒形态性状相关的显著品种差异。这些发现为进一步研究玉米籽粒数字化特征以及籽粒结构与功能之间的关系奠定了基础。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Plant Methods 生物-植物科学

CiteScore

9.20

自引率

3.90%

发文量

121

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Plant Methods is an open access, peer-reviewed, online journal for the plant research community that encompasses all aspects of technological innovation in the plant sciences. There is no doubt that we have entered an exciting new era in plant biology. The completion of the Arabidopsis genome sequence, and the rapid progress being made in other plant genomics projects are providing unparalleled opportunities for progress in all areas of plant science. Nevertheless, enormous challenges lie ahead if we are to understand the function of every gene in the genome, and how the individual parts work together to make the whole organism. Achieving these goals will require an unprecedented collaborative effort, combining high-throughput, system-wide technologies with more focused approaches that integrate traditional disciplines such as cell biology, biochemistry and molecular genetics. Technological innovation is probably the most important catalyst for progress in any scientific discipline. Plant Methods’ goal is to stimulate the development and adoption of new and improved techniques and research tools and, where appropriate, to promote consistency of methodologies for better integration of data from different laboratories.