applications methods

Located in the Competence Centre for Non Invasive Methods ( NIM), the recently formed ecoNMR group dedicates its activities to the investigation of structure, water transport and growth in plant-soil systems. To this end, development of novel and adaptation of established NMR methodology, driven by biological questions is indispensable.

Using NMR relaxation methods, information on pore sizes and pore size distribution, as well as on tissue composition, water content and dynamic plant water status can be obtained in plants and plant-soil systems. Complementary information based on small scale molecular motion can also be obtained using diffusion NMR methods, probing surface to volume ratios and geometry of porous systems (cellular tissues, soils). On a faster velocity scale, using NMR flow methods, the coherent transport of fluids through the long distance transport system of plants and its disturbance in case of stress (i.e. cavitation) can be investigated.