Assessing potato tuber diel growth by means of X‐ray computed tomography

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment Vol. 38; no. 11; pp. 2318 - 2326
• Main Authors: Pérez‐Torres, Eduardo, Kirchgessner, Norbert, Pfeifer, Johannes, Walter, Achim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Computed tomography; Developmental stages; diel cycle; genotype; Genotypes; lipid peroxidation; Oxidative Stress; Peroxidation; Plant Tubers - anatomy & histology; Plant Tubers - growth & development; potato; Potatoes; roots; Solanum tuberosum; Solanum tuberosum - anatomy & histology; Solanum tuberosum - growth & development; Solanum tuberosum L; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; tuber growth; tuber volume; tubers; Vegetables; X-radiation; diel cycle; tuber growth; Solanum tuberosum L; potato; tuber volume
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.12548

The formation and development of belowground organs is difficult to study. X‐ray computed tomography (CT) provides the possibility to analyse and interpret subtle volumetric changes of belowground organs such as tubers, storage roots and nodules. Here, we report on the establishment of a method based on a voxel dimension of 240 μm and precision (standard deviation) of 30 μL that allows interpreting growth differences among potato tubers happening within 3 h. Plants were not stressed by the application of X‐ray radiation, which was shown both by morphological comparison with control plants and by analysis of lipid peroxidation as a measure of oxidative stress. Diel (24 h) tuber growth fluctuations of three potato genotypes were monitored in soil‐filled pots of 10 L. In contrast to the results from previous reports, most tubers grew at similar rates during day and night. Tuber growth was not related to the developmental stage of plants and tubers. Pronounced differences were observed between average growth rates in different tubers within a plant. These results are discussed in the context of restrictions of past methods to study tuber growth and in the context of their potential for the characterization of the formation and development of other belowground plant organs. The manuscript deals with the use of X‐ray computed tomography in the determination of potato tuber growth, its advantages compared to previous experimental approaches on the subject and novel findings derived from the use of this methodology. Results described in this manuscript have potential uses not only in potato research, but also in the study of growth and development of belowground organs in other plants, an exciting area of science where there is still much to be studied.