가속기 X선 영상기법을 이용한 애기장대 뿌리털의 물 흡수과정 가시화

Water-uptake through roots, is an essential process of the water flow in plants. Its visualization is very useful for understanding sap flow dynamics at whole plant level. In this study, the tips of Arabidopsis' root hairs were excised and exposed to repeated dehydration and rehydration processes. The water-refilling through individual xylem vessels was visualized using the synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique. The high temporal resolution ($2\;{\mu}m$) and beam intensity of the X-ray source allowed to acquisition of consecutive X-ray images of the water-refilling process up to 10 frames/sec. Various flow patterns were observed and the ascending speed of the water-air interfaces was analyzed. The relation between the water-rising height and ascending speed was also analyzed. The present results would provide better alternative for investigating sap flows in roots.