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A new capability for high-resolution 3D imaging of soil structure and soil chemistry in the rhizosphere


EMSL Project ID
50164

Abstract

We aim to answer the following critical questions about the rhizosphere: (i) What is the distribution of important nutrient elements like P in the soil and around the root? (ii) How much of the nutrient uptake occurs via root hairs vs the actual root? (iii) Is there preferential nutrient uptake by root hairs, and how does the surrounding soil structure affect it? In order to address these questions, we aim to expand EMSL’s multiscale imaging capabilities by employing synchrotron-based x-ray tomography combined with x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate critical nutrient cycling and plant-soil interactions in the rhizosphere. This effort addresses a major need stated by a recent DOE-BER Workshop Report1, which is the development of “State-of-the-Art Technologies for Understanding Rhizospheres”. While in line with EMSL’s multiscale imaging efforts, the project also fills a “resolution gap” between electron microscopy-based imaging and existing x-ray tomography capabilities, where 3D structural information on the sub-10 μm scale is lacking. In addition, by adding 3D chemical information on selected soil components from the spectroscopy, we develop a new capability to better understand chemical and physical processes in the rhizosphere.

Project Details

Start Date
2018-03-01
End Date
2018-04-16
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Tamas Varga
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Co-Investigator(s)

Malak Tfaily
Institution
University of Arizona

Team Members

Amir Ahkami
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Alice Dohnalkova
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory