Visualization of water movement in crops and the analysis of their physiological disorders by using high performance imaging techniques

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1. The mechanism of 'water-core', an important physiological disorder of melon fruits, was investigated and clarified the followings : 1) ethylene evolution was a key factor for inducing the disorder, 2) the cleavage of adjacent cells was accelerated as the result of degradation of the cell wall polymers, and 3) 'water-core' was formed by the incorporation of water into the enlarged intercellular spaces.2. 'Water-core' was not developed as the result of accumulation of fermentative products such as ethanol and acetaldehyde by the accelerated anaerobic respirations but by the enlargement of intercellular spaces.3. The shortage of cell-wall-binding-calcium-ions is not necessarily needed for the development of 'water-core' in melon fruit. The disorder is rather often developed as the result of the degradation of covalently-bound pectin polymers.4. We visualized the movement of water in cut flowers, horticultural products, and crops. The results were useful for diagnosing the water-deficit of the plants. We also advocated a new technique of storage method of those crops.5. The techniques of non-destructive analysis in the internal structures of crops by using Near Infra Red, Neutron Imaging, Laser Doppler etc were improved by our studies, which were also useful for the real-time-chasing of water-movement in the plants.