Examination of the tissue water in cucumber [Cucumis sativus] fruit by small dedicated magnetic resonance imaging with a 1-T permanent magnet
2009
Koizumi, M.(National Food Research Inst., Tsukuba, Ibaraki (Japan)) | Naito, S. | Kano, H. | Haishi, T.
The morphology and physical state of tissue water of cucumber fruit were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compared using a 1-Tesla (T) permanent magnet that was devised for food research and a 7-T high-resolution magnet. Then, the distribution and mobility of water were analyzed between tissues by the relaxation time-weighted imaging methods. Sarcocarp, placentas, seeds and vascular bundles of the fruits in different physiological conditions were distinguishable by 1-T small MRI, while clear morphology was observed by 7-T high-resolution MRI. However, while low mobility of water in the tissues of low water content, such as the placentas, was not detected due to the fast Tsub(2) decay of the signals in the high magnetic field of 7-T MRI, it was detected by 1-T MRI, which had slower Tsub (2) decay of the signals. Moreover, the Tsub(1) signal recovery was faster in the 1-T MRI than in the 7-T MRI. These results indicate that the small 1-T MRI is suitable for analyzing the physical conditions of water in respect to the detection of the low mobility of water and also for obtaining a strong Tsub(1) contrast of morphology despite the lower quality of the images compared to the high-resolution images. The 1-T small MRI is therefore an effective method for studying the properties of food materials with a wide range in the amount and mobility of water.
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