Three-dimensional multimodality modelling by integration of high-resolution interindividual atlases and functional maldi-ims data

Abstract

We present an approach for the analysis of phenotypic diversity in morphology and internal composition of biological specimen by means of high resolution 3-D models of developing barley grains. Three-dimensional histological structures are resolved by reconstructing specimen from large stacks of serially sectioned material, which is a preliminary for the spatial assignment of key tissues in differentiation. By sampling and constructing models at different developmental time steps from multiple individuals, we address two aims in a computational phenomics context: i) Generation of averaging atlases as structural references for integration of functional data, and ii) building the basis for a mathematical model of grain morphogenesis. We have established an algorithmic pipeline for automated processing of large image stacks towards phenotypic 3-D models and data-integration, comprising registration, multi-label segmentation, and alignment of functional measurements. The described algorithms allow high-through put reconstruction and tissue recognition of datasets comprising thousands of images. The usefulness of the approach is demonstrated by automated model generation, allowing volumetric measurements of tissue composition, threedimensional analysis of diversity, and the integration of MALDI-IMS data by mutual information based registration, which is a significant contribution to a systematic analysis of differentiation and development. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009.