Visualization of azoxystrobin penetration in wheat leaves using mass microscopy imaging

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Fungicides are crucial for controlling plant diseases, requiring effective penetration into plant tissues.
• Conventional mass spectrometry methods struggle to localize fungicides within plant tissues due to destructive extraction processes.
• Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) offers a non-destructive alternative for analyzing molecular distribution on sample surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a MALDI-MSI method for visualizing fungicide penetration in wheat leaf cross sections.
• To demonstrate the capability of MALDI-MSI in mapping the spatial distribution of fungicides within plant tissues.
• To assess the utility of MALDI-MSI for evaluating the efficacy and localization of fungicide treatments.

Main Methods:

• Wheat leaf cross sections were analyzed using MALDI-MSI.
• The distribution of the fungicide azoxystrobin within the leaf tissues was visualized.
• Direct surface analysis by MALDI-MSI eliminated the need for destructive extraction steps.

Main Results:

• MALDI-MSI successfully visualized the penetration of azoxystrobin from the leaf epidermis into internal tissues.
• Azoxystrobin was observed to accumulate in cells surrounding the vascular bundle.
• The spatial distribution of the fungicide within the wheat leaf was clearly mapped.

Conclusions:

• MALDI-MSI is a powerful tool for visualizing and quantifying fungicide penetration in plant tissues.
• This technique provides valuable insights into fungicide distribution, aiding in the optimization of agricultural treatments.
• MALDI-MSI can enhance the understanding of fungicide behavior within plants, leading to more effective disease management strategies.