New technology can image plant genes in 3D

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, June 14 (Reporter Liu Xia) Every tissue of plants has hundreds of different types of cells, which convey information about Functional requirement and environmental changes. Scientists at the Salk Institute of Biology in the United States have developed a new imaging technology that can capture the entire "inner" world of plants at an unprecedented resolution in 3D, opening the door to understanding how plants respond to climate change and cultivating more adaptable creatures

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, June 14 (Reporter Liu Xia) Every tissue of plants has hundreds of different types of cells, which convey information about Functional requirement and environmental changes. Scientists at the Salk Institute of Biology in the United States have developed a new imaging technology that can capture the entire "inner" world of plants at an unprecedented resolution in 3D, opening the door to understanding how plants respond to climate change and cultivating more adaptable creatures. The relevant research was published in the journal Nature Plants on the 12th.

Research leader Joseph Eck stated that existing imaging techniques can only observe a small number of genes within a plant tissue and require changes in the genetic composition of the plant. The latest technology, known as PHYTOMap, can map various different genes in a certain part of a plant (such as a root tip) on a 3D level, allowing researchers to simultaneously study dozens of genes without any genetic modifications to the plant, understand which cells express these genes, how these cells interact with each other, and how organizational structure affects these cells. Subsequently, they can use this information to improve crops and predict plant responses to climate change.

The research team pointed out that in addition to being powerful, the cost of PHYTOMap is also relatively low. They can use this to observe the interaction between plants and surrounding microorganisms.

Eck emphasized that PHYTOMap makes it easier to visualize cells in plant tissues, without changing the genetic composition of plants or using color labeling of cells. This helps to further understand the complex interactions between plant genes during normal development and various environmental conditions, providing key information for species cultivation and other purposes.

The experimental team plans to use PHYTOMap to better understand the interactions between cell groups within various plant tissues, and ultimately design crops that are more resistant to climate change.

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