title: In vivo Observation of Tree Drought Response with Low-Field NMR and Neutron Imaging.
abstract: Using a simple low-field NMR system, we monitored water content in a living tree in a greenhouse over 2 months. By continuously running the system, we observed changes in tree water content on a scale of half an hour. The data showed a diurnal change in water content consistent both with previous NMR and biological observations. Neutron imaging experiments show that our NMR signal is primarily due to water being rapidly transported through the plant, and not to other sources of hydrogen, such as water in cytoplasm, or water in cell walls. After accounting for the role of temperature in the observed NMR signal, we demonstrate a change in the diurnal signal behavior due to simulated drought conditions for the tree. These results illustrate the utility of our system to perform noninvasive measurements of tree water content outside of a temperature controlled environment.
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoder
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Espy
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Lee T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Dickman
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Ron O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Sven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Henrik J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sandin
authors.affiliation: Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sevanto
keywords: NMR; drought; flow; health; hydraulics; neutron imaging; tree; water