Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is increasingly employed for precision monitoring in plant science, as it is a non-invasive technique for the quantitative analysis of the functional mechanisms of plant metabolism. When exported to digital agronomy in combination with qualitative detection, PET has the potential to drive the sustainable management of chemical fertilizers. Such a translational approach requires a transition from controlled in-lab to natural in-field PET imaging. We report a novel portable and shape-adaptable digital plant PET system based on the Multi Voltage Threshold digital readout, with an extendable transverse Field of View (FOV) ranging between 80 mm and 120 mm. Due to the soft and thin plant structures, Compton scattering can be neglected and the energy selection of the singles can be removed. The system reaches a peak sensitivity up to (16:94 0:01)% and (9:12 0:01)% in closed and maximally opened FOV configuration, respectively. Image quality has been tested with a dedicated plant phantom imaging and with sprouts of Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum. In order to verify the ability of the prototype to perform both in-lab and in-field PET imaging experiments, we report two examples of widespread abiotic stresses for crops: heat and drought stress in the two experimental conditions, respectively.
Development and evaluation of a prototype of shape-adaptable and portable All-Digital PET system for in-lab and in-field plant imaging
Nematpour, Afsaneh;Pagnani, Giancarlo;Pisante, Michele
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2023-01-01
Abstract
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is increasingly employed for precision monitoring in plant science, as it is a non-invasive technique for the quantitative analysis of the functional mechanisms of plant metabolism. When exported to digital agronomy in combination with qualitative detection, PET has the potential to drive the sustainable management of chemical fertilizers. Such a translational approach requires a transition from controlled in-lab to natural in-field PET imaging. We report a novel portable and shape-adaptable digital plant PET system based on the Multi Voltage Threshold digital readout, with an extendable transverse Field of View (FOV) ranging between 80 mm and 120 mm. Due to the soft and thin plant structures, Compton scattering can be neglected and the energy selection of the singles can be removed. The system reaches a peak sensitivity up to (16:94 0:01)% and (9:12 0:01)% in closed and maximally opened FOV configuration, respectively. Image quality has been tested with a dedicated plant phantom imaging and with sprouts of Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum. In order to verify the ability of the prototype to perform both in-lab and in-field PET imaging experiments, we report two examples of widespread abiotic stresses for crops: heat and drought stress in the two experimental conditions, respectively.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
