title: Application of elemental bioimaging using laser ablation ICP-MS in forest pathology: distribution of elements in the bark of Picea sitchensis following wounding.
abstract: Element distribution in the bark of two 20-year-old clones of Picea sitchensis following wounding was studied using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Bark was sampled at 0, 3, and 43 days after wounding and analysed using a focused Nd:YAG laser (266 nm). Intensities of (13)C, (25)Mg, (27)Al, (31)P, (32)S, (39)K, (48)Ca, (55)Mn, (57)Fe, (63)Cu and (64)Zn were measured by ICP-MS to study elemental distribution across the bark samples during the wound repair process. A clear accumulation of Mg, P and K at the boundary zone between the lesion and healthy tissue was detected in the wounded samples and was more distinctive at 43 than at 3 days after treatment. This zone of accumulation mapped onto the position of formation of the ligno-suberised boundary zone and differentiation of the wound periderm. These accumulations suggest major roles for Mg, P and K in the non-specific response of Sitka spruce both to wounding, possibly as co-factors to enzymes and energy utilisation. The LA-ICP-MS method developed in this work proved useful to study spatial element distribution across bark samples and has great potential for applications in other areas of plant pathology research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Soil Science, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siebold
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leidich
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertini
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deflorio
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feldmann
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halmschlager
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woodward
mesh_terms: D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D028222:Picea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D061066:Plant Pathology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements