Improved scanning capabilities is helping crop researchers and breeders get greater insights into their plants.
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Adelaide-based The Plan Accelerator, part of the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, is offering X-ray Computed Tomogography or CT scans of plants to get an unprecedented look into fill and roots, among other options.
Resident CT scanning specialist Haoyu Lou spent two weeks at the University of Nottingham's Hounsfield Facility in the United Kingdom at the start of March, working with their CT Scanning experts.
He took along data from scans of chickpea pods that were made with two APPF Postgraduate Interns from the University of WA, as part of their research into chickpea fertility.
"X-ray CT scanning was perfect for seeing inside chickpea pods, allowing the researchers to assess grain fill non-destructively," Dr Lou said.
![An X-ray micro CT scan of a whole, living chickpea plant. Picture supplied by Australian Plant Phenomics Facility An X-ray micro CT scan of a whole, living chickpea plant. Picture supplied by Australian Plant Phenomics Facility](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Fuxf4VmvfUmd225xeYC69T/594b0cf6-7b1c-438d-863e-c968ffe3c9d5.png/r191_0_1763_949_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Hounsfield Facility has been using X-ray CT scanners in plant and soil research for more than a decade, with a particular focus on plant root architecture and understanding the rhizosphere.
Dr Lou said this was a great chance to learn from this experience.
"We have already had some good success with our X-ray CT scanner, but we can still learn more about how best to analyse roots below ground," he said.
"Being able to non-destructively study and segment growing roots is extremely useful for plant and crop research, as the roots are so critical to nutrient and water uptake, salinity tolerance, and more."
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Dr Lou's research trip was supported by a UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Australia Partnering Award: Delving down-under: using advanced phenotyping to uncover how roots grow in hard soils.
The awards facilitate transfers between Australia and the UK for early career researchers.