Effects of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent Gd-DTPA on Plant Growth and Root Imaging in Rice

Abstract

Although paramagnetic contrast agents have a wide range of applications in medical studies involving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), these agents are seldom used to enhance MRI images of plant root systems. To extend the application of MRI contrast agents to plant research and to develop related techniques to study root systems, we examined the applicability of the MRI contrast agent Gd-DTPA to the imaging of rice roots. Specifically, we examined the biological effects of various concentrations of Gd-DTPA on rice growth and MRI images. Analysis of electrical conductivity and plant height demonstrated that 5 mmol Gd-DTPA had little impact on rice in the short-term. The results of signal intensity and spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) analysis suggested that 5 mmol Gd-DTPA was the appropriate concentration for enhancing MRI signals. In addition, examination of the long-term effects of Gd-DTPA on plant height showed that levels of this compound up to 5 mmol had little impact on rice growth and (to some extent) increased the biomass of rice.

Gadolinium Accumulation and Toxicity on In Vitro Grown Stevia rebaudiana: A Case-Study on Gadobutrol

“…The effects of Gd on S. rebaudiana plant growth indicated significant toxicity, especially at high exposures of 1 and 3 mM. In a study on rice grown in hydroponic conditions, Liu et al [ 27 ] found a low impact of 5 mM gadopentenic acid (Gd-DTPA) on rice growth and biomass, upon short-term exposure (up to 12 h), but higher impacts on rice plant growth for concentrations of 10 and 15 mM Gd-DTPA, which affected the rice growth. Another study on rice (hydroponics, 0–1 mM Gd exposure) showed significant inhibition of root growth for 0.1 and 1 mM [ 28 ].…”

“…To date, there are studies proving the toxicity of Gd on aquatic ecosystems such as algae, microcrustaceans, and mussels [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Some studies on the toxicity of Gd on plants such as rice, maize, tomato, and Arabidopsis thaliana have been published [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], but there are still many questions to be addressed.…”

Gadolinium Accumulation and Toxicity on In Vitro Grown Stevia rebaudiana: A Case-Study on Gadobutrol

“…The effects of Gd on S. rebaudiana plant growth indicated significant toxicity, especially at high exposures of 1 and 3 mM. In a study on rice grown in hydroponic conditions, Liu et al [ 27 ] found a low impact of 5 mM gadopentenic acid (Gd-DTPA) on rice growth and biomass, upon short-term exposure (up to 12 h), but higher impacts on rice plant growth for concentrations of 10 and 15 mM Gd-DTPA, which affected the rice growth. Another study on rice (hydroponics, 0–1 mM Gd exposure) showed significant inhibition of root growth for 0.1 and 1 mM [ 28 ].…”

“…To date, there are studies proving the toxicity of Gd on aquatic ecosystems such as algae, microcrustaceans, and mussels [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Some studies on the toxicity of Gd on plants such as rice, maize, tomato, and Arabidopsis thaliana have been published [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], but there are still many questions to be addressed.…”

Plant phenotyping: from bean weighing to image analysis

“…Such systems can serve as an excellent bridge between controlled conditions and real field conditions. Other methodologies with the potential to study root system architecture and functioning in the future are nuclear magnetic resonance [ 104 - 106 ], neutron radiography [ 107 ] and positron emission tomography [ 108 ], which allow segmenting the root from the surrounding substrate.…”

MRI Based Monitoring of Accumulation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics

“…MRI has been used to study dynamic processes in a plant biology using contrast agents (e.g. Gdbased) [25,26]. This approach relies on the immediate impact of paramagnetic contrast agents on tissue-specific magnetic properties, predominantly altering the longitudinal relaxation times (T1).…”

Gadolinium Accumulation and Toxicity on In Vitro Grown Stevia rebaudiana: A Case-Study on Gadobutrol

“…The effects of Gd on S. rebaudiana plant growth indicated significant toxicity, especially at high exposures of 1 and 3 mM. In a study on rice grown in hydroponic conditions, Liu et al [ 27 ] found a low impact of 5 mM gadopentenic acid (Gd-DTPA) on rice growth and biomass, upon short-term exposure (up to 12 h), but higher impacts on rice plant growth for concentrations of 10 and 15 mM Gd-DTPA, which affected the rice growth. Another study on rice (hydroponics, 0–1 mM Gd exposure) showed significant inhibition of root growth for 0.1 and 1 mM [ 28 ].…”

“…To date, there are studies proving the toxicity of Gd on aquatic ecosystems such as algae, microcrustaceans, and mussels [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Some studies on the toxicity of Gd on plants such as rice, maize, tomato, and Arabidopsis thaliana have been published [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], but there are still many questions to be addressed.…”

Plant phenotyping: from bean weighing to image analysis

“…Such systems can serve as an excellent bridge between controlled conditions and real field conditions. Other methodologies with the potential to study root system architecture and functioning in the future are nuclear magnetic resonance [ 104 - 106 ], neutron radiography [ 107 ] and positron emission tomography [ 108 ], which allow segmenting the root from the surrounding substrate.…”

MRI Based Monitoring of Accumulation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics

“…MRI has been used to study dynamic processes in a plant biology using contrast agents (e.g. Gdbased) [25,26]. This approach relies on the immediate impact of paramagnetic contrast agents on tissue-specific magnetic properties, predominantly altering the longitudinal relaxation times (T1).…”

Gadolinium Accumulation and Toxicity on In Vitro Grown Stevia rebaudiana: A Case-Study on Gadobutrol

“…The effects of Gd on S. rebaudiana plant growth indicated significant toxicity, especially at high exposures of 1 and 3 mM. In a study on rice grown in hydroponic conditions, Liu et al [ 27 ] found a low impact of 5 mM gadopentenic acid (Gd-DTPA) on rice growth and biomass, upon short-term exposure (up to 12 h), but higher impacts on rice plant growth for concentrations of 10 and 15 mM Gd-DTPA, which affected the rice growth. Another study on rice (hydroponics, 0–1 mM Gd exposure) showed significant inhibition of root growth for 0.1 and 1 mM [ 28 ].…”

“…To date, there are studies proving the toxicity of Gd on aquatic ecosystems such as algae, microcrustaceans, and mussels [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Some studies on the toxicity of Gd on plants such as rice, maize, tomato, and Arabidopsis thaliana have been published [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], but there are still many questions to be addressed.…”

Plant phenotyping: from bean weighing to image analysis

“…Such systems can serve as an excellent bridge between controlled conditions and real field conditions. Other methodologies with the potential to study root system architecture and functioning in the future are nuclear magnetic resonance [ 104 - 106 ], neutron radiography [ 107 ] and positron emission tomography [ 108 ], which allow segmenting the root from the surrounding substrate.…”

MRI Based Monitoring of Accumulation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics

“…MRI has been used to study dynamic processes in a plant biology using contrast agents (e.g. Gdbased) [25,26]. This approach relies on the immediate impact of paramagnetic contrast agents on tissue-specific magnetic properties, predominantly altering the longitudinal relaxation times (T1).…”