The Plant Journal 41: 133-145 (2005)

ß-1,3-Glucanase gene expression in low-hydrated seeds as a mechanism for dormancy release during tobacco after-ripening

Figure 5.  Spatial analyses of the proton mobility distribution in tobacco seeds by non-invasive in vivo 1H NMR 2D micro-imaging. Representative cross-sectional GlbGus seed micro-images with 31 µm resolution. The spatial distribution of proton mobility within the tissues is visualized by the false colors (relative scale from 0 to 100 %).
(A) Seed during air-dry storage (moisture content 9.3 %).
(B) Seed during storage in humid atmosphere (moisture content 19.2 %).
(C) Seed imbibed for 12h (moisture content 38.6 %).
(A)-(C) Arrows indicate areas with high proton mobility in the covering layers. Note that high proton mobility is specific for water and/or lipids in (A) and becomes specific for water at increasing moisture contents in (B, C).