Megapixel imaging of (micro)nutrients in mature barley grains

TY - JOUR

T1 - Megapixel imaging of (micro)nutrients in mature barley grains

AU - Lombi, Enzo

AU - Smith, Euan

AU - Hansen, Thomas Hesselhøj

AU - Paterson, David

AU - Jonge, Martin D. de

AU - Howard, Daryl L.

AU - Persson, Daniel Olof

AU - Husted, Søren

AU - Ryan, Chris

AU - Schjørring, Jan Kofod

PY - 2011/1

Y1 - 2011/1

N2 - Understanding the accumulation and distribution of essential nutrients in cereals is of primary importance for improving the nutritional quality of this staple food. While recent studies have improved the understanding of micronutrient loading into the barley grain, a detailed characterization of the distribution of micronutrients within the grain is still lacking. High-definition synchrotron X-ray fluorescence was used to investigate the distribution and association of essential elements in barley grain at the micro scale. Micronutrient distribution within the scutellum and the embryo was shown to be highly variable between elements in relation to various morphological features. In the rest of the grain, the distribution of some elements such as Cu and Zn was not limited to the aleurone layer but extended into the endosperm. This pattern of distribution was less marked in the case of Fe and, in particular, Mn. A significant difference in element distribution was also found between the ventral and dorsal part of the grains. The correlation between the elements was not consistent between and within tissues, indicating that the transport and storage of elements is highly regulated. The complexity of the spatial distribution and associations has important implications for improving the nutritional content of cereal crops such as barley.

AB - Understanding the accumulation and distribution of essential nutrients in cereals is of primary importance for improving the nutritional quality of this staple food. While recent studies have improved the understanding of micronutrient loading into the barley grain, a detailed characterization of the distribution of micronutrients within the grain is still lacking. High-definition synchrotron X-ray fluorescence was used to investigate the distribution and association of essential elements in barley grain at the micro scale. Micronutrient distribution within the scutellum and the embryo was shown to be highly variable between elements in relation to various morphological features. In the rest of the grain, the distribution of some elements such as Cu and Zn was not limited to the aleurone layer but extended into the endosperm. This pattern of distribution was less marked in the case of Fe and, in particular, Mn. A significant difference in element distribution was also found between the ventral and dorsal part of the grains. The correlation between the elements was not consistent between and within tissues, indicating that the transport and storage of elements is highly regulated. The complexity of the spatial distribution and associations has important implications for improving the nutritional content of cereal crops such as barley.

U2 - 10.1093/jxb/erq270

DO - 10.1093/jxb/erq270

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20819790

SN - 0022-0957

VL - 62

SP - 273

EP - 282

JO - Journal of Experimental Botany

JF - Journal of Experimental Botany

IS - 1

ER -