Autoradiography of neutron activated plant samples using imaging plate

Autoradiography is a convenient and qualitative method to study two-dimensional distribution of radioisotopes in various materials. Imaging Plate (IP), which is a new radiography apparatus of applying a photostimulable luminescence, has some advantages in comparison with X-ray film, for example, high sensitivity, wide latitude and high fidelity for any radiations. The high sensitivity of IP makes it possible to observe the distribution of short-lived nuclides, such as 28Al, 56Mn. The intensity of autoradiograms for neutron irradiated Al- and Mn-standard samples decreased according to 28Al and 56Mn half-lives, respectively. It was proportional to the contents of Al- and Mn-standard. More autoradiograms of Al- and Mn-treated cuttings from plants were obtained in high intensitive imaging than those of the water-treated cuttings. This showed that Al and Mn were taken in by the plant bodies from solutions. High intensitive imaging was recognized in the leaf vein and epicotyls. This indicates that Mn tends to accumulate in the vascular system. The imaging of the apices region for all samples showed high intensities. It seems that high elemental concentrations exist in shoot apices. The autoradiographic intensities corresponded to the measurement results by γ-ray spectrometry. (author)