Positron Emission Tomography in Agriculture and Life: PET for the study of wheat growth in biotic and abiotic stress

Project Information

PETAL

Grant agreement ID: 101008114

DOI

10.3030/101008114

EC signature date 24 November 2020

Start date 1 October 2021

End date 30 November 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 593 400,00

EU contribution

€ 547 400,00

Coordinated by

INSTITUTO NEUROLOGICO MEDITERRANEO NEUROMED SOCIETA PER AZIONI
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PETAL (Positron Emission Tomography in Agriculture and Life: PET for the study of wheat growth in biotic and abiotic stress)

Reporting period: 2021-10-01 to 2024-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The PETAL project addresses challenges in cereal production caused by climate change, which affects crop yields through extreme weather events like droughts and heatwaves. Climate impacts, especially in low-latitude regions, threaten global food security and agricultural stability, particularly for wheat, which is vulnerable to these stresses. These stress factors are difficult to predict, complicating efforts to understand their effects on plant physiology and yield.

The project’s objectives include early detection of stress impacts using non-invasive methods, advanced imaging techniques (PET, CT, MRI) to study wheat's carbon metabolism under stress, and predictive models combining metabolic and morphological data to estimate yield reductions. The PETAL project fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration among specialists in plant physiology, agronomy, and imaging technology to innovate precision agriculture solutions. These advancements aim to improve crop resilience and ensure sustainable food production in the face of climate change.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The PETAL project has advanced positron emission tomography (PET) for studying carbon and water dynamics in wheat plants, offering new insights into plant physiological processes under varying environmental conditions.
A key application of PET involved tracking carbon allocation using the radioactive carbon isotope 11C-CO2. This allowed researchers to observe how carbon moved from the leaves to other parts of the plant under conditions like limited irrigation and bio-stimulant application, proving PET as an effective tool for studying carbon dynamics and resource allocation under stress.
The project also used PET to monitor water transport in the plant’s vascular system. PET was calibrated against sap flow sensors, enabling the modeling of water movement under different conditions, including drought rehydration and varying light levels. When combined with MRI and X-ray CT, PET provided a detailed view of water distribution and storage in the plant’s xylem.
PETAL also explored the role of carbohydrate storage in regulating water movement. PET imaging tracked how carbohydrate accumulation during stages like internode elongation and grain filling influenced water flow. These findings, supported by destructive analyses on non-scanned plants, deepened understanding of how carbohydrates affect water transport under stress.
In addition to PET, non-destructive xylem loading assays and confocal microscopy were used to study water transport at the cellular level, providing high-resolution images that complemented PET data.
A major development was the creation of a portable PET system for plant imaging. This system, with 40 detector heads housed in a heat-regulated casing, enables real-time imaging in the field, supporting research on crop resilience and stress responses in natural settings.
The project also tested bio-fertilizers, finding that wheat plants treated with bio-stimulants were more resilient under drought conditions, suggesting potential for improving crop growth and yield in water-stressed environments.
Finally, PETAL introduced a novel data assimilation method to improve PET imaging accuracy. This method, based on fluid dynamics, enables more reliable flow parameter calculations, offering deeper insights into plant water and carbon dynamics.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The PETAL project advances plant science and imaging in key areas:
Real-Time Carbon Mapping: PETAL tracks photosynthetically-produced carbon in wheat, providing insights into carbon dynamics under different conditions, enhancing understanding of plant metabolic responses to environmental factors.
In Vivo Water Transport Analysis: PETAL uses Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to monitor water movement through the plant’s xylem, helping to understand plant responses to stressors like drought and rehydration.
Portable PET System for Field Studies: The portable PET system enables plant imaging in natural and agricultural settings, supporting real-time, on-site research and overcoming the limitations of stationary lab-based systems.
Multimodal Imaging and Data Integration: PETAL combines PET with MRI and X-ray CT, offering a comprehensive view of carbon and water dynamics in plants, improving data quality and insights into plant physiology and stress responses.
Advanced Data Analysis: PETAL introduces a fluid-dynamics-based data assimilation method, improving PET imaging accuracy and enabling more reliable flow velocity calculations, even with sparse data typical in plant studies.

Expected Results by Project End:
Framework for PET Imaging in Plant Science: PETAL will establish standardized methodologies for PET imaging, adopted by researchers in plant biology and agronomy.
Refined Tools for Carbon and Water Research: PETAL will refine portable PET equipment and data techniques to monitor carbon and water dynamics in crops under varying conditions.
Database of Plant Stress Responses: PETAL will create a comprehensive dataset on wheat’s responses to drought, nutrient stress, and biostimulants, supporting crop management and breeding for resilience.
Insights into Carbohydrate Storage’s Role in Water Transport: PETAL will explore how stored carbohydrates affect water flow in the vascular system under stress, improving water use efficiency.

Potential Impacts:
Socio-Economic Impact: PETAL’s findings could transform agriculture by improving water and carbon allocation understanding. These insights lead to better crop management and breeding, boosting yields and resilience in wheat and other staple crops in water-scarce regions. The portable PET system reduces costs by enabling on-site advanced imaging, making it accessible to farmers and researchers.
Environmental Impact: PETAL promotes sustainable agriculture by improving water and nutrient use efficiency, reducing farming’s environmental footprint. Bio-stimulants explored in PETAL offer eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, fostering resilient agriculture with a lower ecological impact.
Broader Societal Impact: PETAL contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Zero Hunger and Climate Action. By enhancing crop resilience, PETAL supports food security, poverty reduction, and economic stability in agriculture-dependent regions. It also helps preserve ecosystem health and biodiversity by reducing reliance on intensive agricultural inputs.
Scientific Knowledge and Technology Transfer: PETAL’s methodologies benefit fields beyond agriculture, including ecology, forestry, and environmental science. PET imaging innovations may inspire biomedical research, with the portable PET system offering potential for environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics.

figure1n.png