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BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES

Three-Dimensional Gas Exchange Pathways in Pome Fruit Characterized by Synchrotron X-Ray Computed Tomography^{1,[C],[W],[OA]}

Division BIOSYST-MeBioS (P.V., H.K.M., B.M.N.), Research Group of Materials Performance and Non-Destructive Evaluation (G.K., M.W.), and Nuclear and Radiation Physics Section (K.T.), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, BE–3001 Leuven, Belgium; and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France (P.C.)

Our understanding of the gas exchange mechanisms in plant organs critically depends on insights in the three-dimensional (3-D) structural arrangement of cells and voids. Using synchrotron radiation x-ray tomography, we obtained for the first time high-contrast 3-D absorption images of in vivo fruit tissues of high moisture content at 1.4-µm resolution and 3-D phase contrast images of cell assemblies at a resolution as low as 0.7 µm, enabling visualization of individual cell morphology, cell walls, and entire void networks that were previously unknown. Intercellular spaces were always clear of water. The apple (Malus domestica) cortex contains considerably larger parenchyma cells and voids than pear (Pyrus communis) parenchyma. Voids in apple often are larger than the surrounding cells and some cells are not connected to void spaces. The main voids in apple stretch hundreds of micrometers but are disconnected. Voids in pear cortex tissue are always smaller than parenchyma cells, but each cell is surrounded by a tight and continuous network of voids, except near brachyssclereid groups. Vascular and dermal tissues were also measured. The visualized network architecture was consistent over different picking dates and shelf life. The differences in void fraction (5.1% for pear cortex and 23.0% for apple cortex) and in gas network architecture helps explain the ability of tissues to facilitate or impede gas exchange. Structural changes and anisotropy of tissues may eventually lead to physiological disorders. A combined tomography and internal gas analysis during growth are needed to make progress on the understanding of void formation in fruit.

The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantphysiol.org) is: Pieter Verboven (pieter.verboven{at}biw.kuleuven.be).

^[C] Some figures in this article are displayed in color online but in black and white in the print edition.

^[W] The online version of this article contains Web-only data.

^[OA] Open Access articles can be viewed online without a subscription.

www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/doi/10.1104/pp.108.118935

^* Corresponding author; e-mail pieter.verboven{at}biw.kuleuven.be.

Received March 10, 2008; accepted April 13, 2008; published April 16, 2008.

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