Monte Carlo simulations of synchrotron X-ray dose affecting root growth during in vivo tomographic imaging

Synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (XCT) has been increasingly applied to study the in vivo dynamics of root growth and rhizosphere processes. However, minimizing radiation-induced damage to root growth warrants further investigation. Our objective was to develop a robust approach for modeling and evaluating ways to reduce synchrotron X-ray dose effects on root growth during in vivo imaging. Wheat roots growing in soil were exposed to X-rays during XCT experiments resolved in space (3D) plus time (4D). The dose rate and cumulative absorbed dose in roots were modelled using the Monte Carlo code FLUKA for different experimental conditions of polychromatic and quasi-monochromatic X-ray beam configurations. The most impactful factors affecting damage to roots were incident X-ray energy spectrum, stored current in the accelerator machine, position of the root in the soil, and possibly the number of exposures during the 4D XCT experiments. Our results imply that radiation dose during in vivo imaging of plant roots can be diminished by using monochromatic radiation at the highest energy suitable for a given sample thickness and field of view, and by controlling the rotation axis of off-centered roots to increase attenuation of radiation by the soil matrix.