title: Development of a mobile magnetic resonance imaging system for outdoor tree measurements.
abstract: By combining a 0.3 T permanent magnet with flexible rotation and translation mechanism, a probe with a local electromagnetic shielding, several electrical units, a mobile lift, and an electric wagon, a mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system was developed for outdoor tree measurements. 2D cross-sectional images of normal and diseased branches of a pear tree were acquired for measurements of T(1), T(2), proton density, and apparent diffusion constant (ADC). The ADC map clearly differentiated diseased from normal branches. A whole-day measurement of the ADC map demonstrated that microscopic water flow in the normal branch changed proportionally with solar radiation. Therefore, we have concluded that our mobile MRI system is a powerful tool for studies of plants in outdoor environments.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 3058573, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Yuto
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Geya
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haishi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gemma
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sekozawa
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D031989:Pyrus; D011835:Radiation Protection; D013997:Time Factors; D014197:Trees / Q000378:metabolism