title: MR microscopy for noninvasive detection of water distribution during soaking and cooking in the common bean.
abstract: Magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) was used to study water distribution and mobility in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seed during soaking at room temperature (20°C) and during the cooking of presoaked and dry bean seed in near-boiling water (98°C). Two complementary MRI methods were used to determine the total water uptake into the seed: the T2-weighted 3D RARE method, which yielded an increased signal from regions of highly mobile (bulk) water and a suppressed signal from regions of poorly mobile (bound) water; and the 3D SPI method, which yielded an increased signal from regions of water restricted in motion and a suppressed signal from the bulk water regions owing to the short repetition time of the method. Based on these results, it can be concluded that during soaking water enters the bean through the micropyle, migrating below the seed coat. The raphe and hypocotyl are hydrated first, while the cotyledon tissue is hydrated next. It was also observed that the imbibition rate increases with an increasing soaking temperature.
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address: urska.mikac@ijs.si.
authors.forename: Urša
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mikac
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sepe
authors.affiliation: Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1 Seocheon-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Serša
mesh_terms: D003296:Cooking; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008853:Microscopy; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000502:physiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); Cooking; Magnetic resonance microscopy; Soaking