Plant and Animal Cells

MRI Imaging of Canola Pods

NRC scientists are using non-destructive high resolution imaging technologies to visualize the impact of environmental stresses on plants. Shown here is a cross-section of two seeds in a canola pod, taken using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a higher-resolution version of the MRI used in hospitals. It enables NRC researchers to see inside intact plants. The colour scale, from black to red, indicates increasing levels of protons in small molecules. Thus researchers are able to observe the distribution of water and oil and the impact of factors such as freezing stress on developing seeds.