Plant structure visualization by high-resolution X-ray computed tomography

New developments in high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) are promising for the broader application of this non-destructive imaging method in plant sciences. Detailed three-dimensional morphological traits can be extracted rapidly from in vivo Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings without sample manipulation. Furthermore, ex vivo scanning at sub-micron resolution allows the quantification and visualization of the cellular organization of plant tissue samples. Moreover, this technology should allow us to reveal hidden plant structures, such as the seed embryo and the shoot apical meristem which is covered by the developing leaves. These applications make HRXCT a desired tool in developmental plant biology. We would like to further introduce this technology in our research by focusing on the morphology of specific leaf shape mutants. 3D reconstruction and detailed data extraction both on the organ and cellular level should lead to a better understanding of how individual cells shape the leaf