Appraisal of SIMS applicability to boron studies in plants.
In the search for a new methodological approach applicable to the determination of the still poorly known primary role of boron in plant physiology, we have undertaken to appraise the potential of the SIMS method for the analytical imaging of the boron isotopes, (10)B and (11)B, at physiological concentrations in plants. With our own, CAMECA IMS4F SIMS ion analyser, and using O(2)(+) as primary ions for the detection of B(+) (plus (12)C(+) and (40)Ca(+)) secondary ions, we have been able to map quantitatively the two boron isotopes in control and boron-enriched plants, to evaluate boron concentrations at the level of individual cells and to determine boron isotopic ratios. This provides the opportunity to carry out the simultaneous labeling and imaging of boron, using enrichment with the stable isotopes, (10)B and (11)B. The method has also the potential for the simultaneous, quantitative detection of the boron isotopes and of the borate-binding sites in plant cells.
Laboratoire des Processus Intégratifs Cellulaires, UMR CNRS 6037, Faculté des Sciences de l'Université de Rouen, F-76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan Cedex, France.
Cedric
C
Dérue
David
D
Gibouin
Marie-Claire
MC
Verdus
Fabrice
F
Lefebvre
Maurice
M
Demarty
Camille
C
Ripoll
Michel
M
Thellier
D001895:Boron / Q000378:metabolism*; D019597:Flax / Q000378:metabolism*; D018546:Hypocotyl; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007554:Isotopes; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D018629:Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion / Q000379:methods*
D007554:Isotopes; D001895:Boron