From the Outside in: An Overview of Positron Imaging of Plant and Soil Processes

Positron-emitting nuclides have long been used as imaging agents in medical science to spatially trace processes non-invasively, allowing for real-time molecular imaging using low tracer concentrations. This ability to non-destructively visualize processes in real time also makes positron imaging un...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular Imaging 2020, Vol.19, p.1536012120966405-1536012120966405
Main Authors: Schmidt, Michael P., Mamet, Steven D., Ferrieri, Richard A., Peak, Derek, Siciliano, Steven D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical analysis
Chemical compounds
Contaminants
Electrons
Environmental research
Imaging
Medical science
Metals
Microorganisms
Nuclides
Plants
Porous media
Radioactive Tracers
Real time
Review
Sediments
Soil
Soil contamination
Soil porosity
Soils
Trace elements
Trace metals
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Summary:Positron-emitting nuclides have long been used as imaging agents in medical science to spatially trace processes non-invasively, allowing for real-time molecular imaging using low tracer concentrations. This ability to non-destructively visualize processes in real time also makes positron imaging uniquely suitable for probing various processes in plants and porous environmental media, such as soils and sediments. Here, we provide an overview of historical and current applications of positron imaging in environmental research. We highlight plant physiological research, where positron imaging has been used extensively to image dynamics of macronutrients, signalling molecules, trace elements, and contaminant metals under various conditions and perturbations. We describe how positron imaging is used in porous soils and sediments to visualize transport, flow, and microbial metabolic processes. We also address the interface between positron imaging and other imaging approaches, and present accompanying chemical analysis of labelled compounds for reviewed topics, highlighting the bridge between positron imaging and complementary techniques across scales. Finally, we discuss possible future applications of positron imaging and its potential as a nexus of interdisciplinary biogeochemical research.
ISSN:1535-3508
1536-0121
DOI:10.1177/1536012120966405