Megapixel imaging of (micro)nutrients in mature barley grains.
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.
Lombi
Enzo
E
Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Building X, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, SA-5095 Australia. enzo.lombi@unisa.edu.au
Smith
Euan
E
Hansen
Thomas H
TH
Paterson
David
D
de Jonge
Martin D
MD
Howard
Daryl L
DL
Persson
Daniel P
DP
Husted
Søren
S
Ryan
Chris
C
Schjoerring
Jan K
JK
D056625:Endosperm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001467:Hordeum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
D018977:Micronutrients
New Phytol. 2009;184(1):193-201
19549132
Metallomics. 2009 Sep;1(5):418-26
21305146
Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Aug 1;43(15):6024-30
19731713
Plant Biotechnol J. 2009 Sep;7(7):631-44
19702755
J Exp Bot. 2009;60(4):1333-47
19297552
New Phytol. 2000 May;146(2):185-205
33862977
New Phytol. 2009;182(1):49-84
19192191
Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Feb 15;42(4):1051-7
18351071
Chem Rev. 2009 Oct;109(10):4780-827
19772288
New Phytol. 2010 Jan;185(2):434-45
19895416
Public Health Nutr. 2009 Jan;12(1):91-6
18339225
Ann Bot. 2010 Jun;105(7):1081-102
20410048
Science. 2006 Nov 24;314(5803):1295-8
17082420
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Dec 22;106(51):22014-9
20080803
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 May 30;55(11):4453-60
17488089
Plant Methods. 2009 Sep 26;5:12
19781097
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Feb 21;103(8):2988-93
16481623
Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2009 Jun;12(3):291-8
19481494