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Spatially resolved (semi)quantitative determination of iron (Fe) in plants by means of synchrotron micro X-ray fluorescence

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Abstract

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for plant growth and development; hence determining Fe distribution and concentration inside plant organs at the microscopic level is of great relevance to better understand its metabolism and bioavailability through the food chain. Among the available microanalytical techniques, synchrotron μ-XRF methods can provide a powerful and versatile array of analytical tools to study Fe distribution within plant samples. In the last years, the implementation of new algorithms and detection technologies has opened the way to more accurate (semi)quantitative analyses of complex matrices like plant materials. In this paper, for the first time the distribution of Fe within tomato roots has been imaged and quantified by means of confocal μ-XRF and exploiting a recently developed fundamental parameter-based algorithm. With this approach, Fe concentrations ranging from few hundreds of ppb to several hundreds of ppm can be determined at the microscopic level without cutting sections. Furthermore, Fe (semi)quantitative distribution maps were obtained for the first time by using two opposing detectors to collect simultaneously the XRF radiation emerging from both sides of an intact cucumber leaf.

Elemental distribution maps within intact tomato roots as determined by confocal micro X‐ray fluorescence

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Acknowledgments

Research was supported by grants from Italian MIUR (FIRB-Programma “Futuro in Ricerca”) and Free University of Bolzano (TN5046 and TN5056). Synchrotron experiments at HASYLAB were financially supported by the European Community-Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 “Structuring the European Research Area” Program I (Integrating Activity on Synchrotron and Free Electron Laser Science; project: contract RII3-CT-2004-506008). Matthias Alfeld receives a Ph.D. fellowship of the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO). We thank Karen Rickers-Appel for her scientific and technical support in obtaining the experimental data at Beamline L (HASYLAB, DESY, Hamburg, Germany).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Roberto Terzano

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Matthias Alfeld & Koen Janssens

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Bart Vekemans, Tom Schoonjans & Laszlo Vincze

  4. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Nicola Tomasi & Roberto Pinton

  5. Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy

    Stefano Cesco

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  1. Roberto Terzano
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Correspondence to Roberto Terzano.

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Terzano, R., Alfeld, M., Janssens, K. et al. Spatially resolved (semi)quantitative determination of iron (Fe) in plants by means of synchrotron micro X-ray fluorescence. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 3341–3350 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6768-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6768-6

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