Plant tissue water relaxation

Table 4. Water relaxation studies in plant tissue.

Low concentrations of paramagnetic ions dramatically shorten water proton relaxation times so the transport of these ions in, for example, plant tissue can be monitored.153,179 Fat and water also have different proton relaxation times allowing fat and water distributions in meat180,181 and fish173 to be measured... 

In biological tissue the most abundant source of protons is water, and in most cases MR imaging means obtaining maps of water density. Differences between Ti and relaxation times provide a contrast mechanism. Both relaxation times are sensitive probes of molecular motions. As NMR imaging is able to acquire maps of water distribution and to monitor water flow, it is clear that this method has potential as a valuable tool in the study of plants. Several images of fruits and nuts have been presented earlier that of an intact lemon exhibiting stones is widely known (see the book by GOnther H. [21]). 

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