磁共振成像技术在毛竹幼竹显微结构和水分含量表征中的应用

竹子节部对竹秆的中空结构以及竹秆快速高生长起着关键作用,研究竹子解剖结构有助于认识竹子生长机制。本研究利用核磁共振成像(MRI)无创、高分辨率和准确的技术优势,对毛竹幼竹去笋箨梢部进行横切面高精度核磁共振成像扫描,使用MATLAB软件对 MRI进行灰度值采集,分析节部、近节部和节间水分分布差异。结果表明: 无数维管束在毛竹幼竹节隔以及近节隔内腔反复扭曲和水平转动,组成了一个错综复杂和高度连接的网络结构,通过分轴向载荷来保护重要组织免受机械应力,同时实现水分和营养物质的横向运输,这是毛竹在短时间内快速完成高生长的重要基础。MRI信号值(亮度值)表明,幼竹维管束的水分含量远远高于周围的基本组织。节间平均水分含量和像素点间含水量标准差显著高于节部,近节部居中。MRI技术可以在未来竹子解剖学和生理生化学研究中发挥作用。

Application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology in the characterization of microstructure and moisture content of young Moso bamboo

Bamboo nodes play a key role in the hollow structure and the rapid growth of bamboo culm. Studying on the anatomical structure of bamboo is helpful to understand its growth mechanism. Taking the noninvasive, high-resolution and accurate technical advantages of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we conducted cross-sectional high-resolution MRI scanning on the tip of young Moso bamboo culm (removed shoot sheath) and extracted the gray value of the MRIs by using MATLAB software to explore the differences of water distribution in nodes, proximal nodes, and internodes. The results showed that numerous vascular bundles were repeatedly twisted and rotated horizontally at the nodal diaphragms and inner wall near the nodal diaphragms of the young bamboo, forming an intricate and highly connected network. The structure protected important tissues from mechanical stress by allocating axial loads, and enabled to laterally transport water and nutrients, which was an important basis for the rapid growth of Moso bamboo in relatively short term. The signal value (also known as brightness value) of MRIs indicated that water content of vascular bundles in young bamboo culm was much higher than that of surrounding parenchyma tissues. The mean value and standard deviation of water content between pixels of internodes were significantly higher than that of nodes, and the values of that in the proximal nodes were intermediate. The development of MRI would play a significant role in the studies of bamboo anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.