Mass spectrometry imaging techniques: a versatile toolbox for plant metabolomics

摘要

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a robust tool for visualizing the spatial distribution of various metabolites in complex plant tissues and cells. After appropriately preparing samples, matrix application (optional), ion sources, and mass ana-lyzers are set, and MS images are generated by matching and processing pixel-by-pixel mass spectra. MSI techniques are selected based on sampling and/or ionization methods and strongly depend on the dimensions and properties of plant tissues and cells. These emerging MSI techniques allow for researching the genotype-associated and time -dependent specific localization and accumulation of critical metabolites in various plant tissues.

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