Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

The Calibration and Use of Capacitance Sensors to Monitor Stem Water Content in Trees
08:31

The Calibration and Use of Capacitance Sensors to Monitor Stem Water Content in Trees

Published on: December 27, 2017

MRI links stem water content to stem diameter variations in transpiring trees

Veerle De Schepper1, Dagmar van Dusschoten, Paul Copini

  • 1Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Veerle.DeSchepper@UGent.be

Journal of Experimental Botany
|January 24, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Stem diameter changes in oak trees are closely linked to water content, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dendrometer measurements. MRI revealed water distribution patterns in stem tissues, highlighting bark

More Related Videos

Xylem Water Distribution in Woody Plants Visualized with a Cryo-scanning Electron Microscope10:47

Xylem Water Distribution in Woody Plants Visualized with a Cryo-scanning Electron Microscope

Published on: June 20, 2019

Using High Resolution Computed Tomography to Visualize the Three Dimensional Structure and Function of Plant Vasculature11:49

Using High Resolution Computed Tomography to Visualize the Three Dimensional Structure and Function of Plant Vasculature

Published on: April 5, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Meristems and Plant Growth02:36

Meristems and Plant Growth

Plants grow throughout their lives; this is called indeterminate growth, and it distinguishes plants from most animals. Although certain parts of plants stop growing (e.g., leaves and flowers), others grow continuously—like roots and stems.
Responses to Drought and Flooding02:41

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources02:03

Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources

The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata02:04

Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss01:57

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.