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Plant Mineral Nutrients pp 171–183Cite as

Ion Flux Measurements Using the MIFE Technique

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 953))

Abstract

Noninvasive microelectrode ion flux measurements (the MIFE™ technique) allow the concurrent quantification of net fluxes of several ions with high spatial (several μm) and temporal (ca 5 s) resolution. The MIFE technique has become a popular tool for studying the adaptive responses of plant cells and tissues to a large number of abiotic and biotic stresses. This chapter briefly summarizes some key findings on spatial and temporal organization of plant nutrient acquisition obtained by the MIFE technique, as well as the MIFE contribution towards elucidating the mechanisms behind a plant’s perception and signaling of major abiotic stresses. The full protocols for microelectrode fabrication, calibration, and use are then given, and two basic routines for mapping root ion flux profiles and studying transient ion flux kinetics are given.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council and Grain Research and Development Corporation grants to Sergey Shabala.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agricultural Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

    Sergey Shabala & Lana Shabala

  2. School of Agricultural Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Jayakumar Bose & Tracey Cuin

  3. Biochimie et Physiologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Montpellier SupAgro, Université Montpellier II, Montpellier, France

    Tracey Cuin

  4. School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

    Ian Newman

Authors
  1. Sergey Shabala
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  2. Lana Shabala
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  3. Jayakumar Bose
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  4. Tracey Cuin
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  5. Ian Newman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sergey Shabala .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of York, Biology Department Area 9, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom

    Frans J.M. Maathuis

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Shabala, S., Shabala, L., Bose, J., Cuin, T., Newman, I. (2013). Ion Flux Measurements Using the MIFE Technique. In: Maathuis, F. (eds) Plant Mineral Nutrients. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 953. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-152-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-152-3_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-151-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-152-3

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