Monitoring plant growth by analyzing their morphology using microfocus X-ray CT

The growth and development of embryophytes is deeply influenced by environmental stimuli, such as light, temperature, and soil nutrients. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the growth response of plants to environmental stimuli is crucial for agriculture. In this study, we examined the morphology of a flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, using microfocus X-ray computed tomography (µCT), which enables non-destructive analysis of the external and internal structures of plants. Three-dimensional (3D) images of the plant, which were reconstructed from X-ray scanned data, clearly showed the shapes of its leaves, stems, and buds from any angle. At a higher magnification, the µCT also revealed the small hair-like structures called trichomes on the Arabidopsis leaf epidermis. However, motion artifacts found in the 3D-reconstructed images indicated that plant's growth rate was faster than scanning speed. Thus, scan parameters must be accordingly optimized. Additionally, CT-based 3D printing can be used to design micro devices that can be further used to monitor plant growth. These results suggest that µCT is a useful technique for analyzing morphology of growing plants.