PubMed · 2026-06-09
Scientists are using MRI scanners — the same technology in hospitals — to peer inside seeds and watch how plants store and break down fats, without cutting them open. This opens the door to faster breeding of crops with better oil profiles and deeper understanding of seed biology.
MRI can non-invasively map fat distribution at the tissue and cell level inside intact seeds, revealing compartmentalized storage patterns shaped by the seed's local chemistry and environment.
Fat storage and breakdown can now be monitored in real time in living seeds, replacing destructive chemical analysis methods used previously.
Combining MRI with deep learning (AI) and other imaging techniques is poised to revolutionize oilseed crop phenotyping and accelerate plant breeding programs.