PlantScreen^TM Field System

PlantScreen^TM Field Phenotyping Systems are mobile platform for fast and accurate crop phenotyping in the field. PlantScreen^TM Field System is an drive pivot tower with multiple sensor modules mounted on XZ-robotic arm. System is automatically moving over field plots at speed that ensures high throughput. Active sensors are used for accurate monitoring of numerous physiological and morphological plant parameters that are time- and location- referenced. Configurable environmental monitoring system is integrated. A comprehensive software package, with remote accessibility, is used to control all aspects of the system and sensor modules, as well as for data acquisition, image analysis and data base configuration.

The sensor platform may include devices for hyperspectral imaging, fluorescence imaging, thermal imaging and for morphometric and canopy analysis. These active sensors are used for accurate monitoring of numerous physiological and morphological plant parameters that are time- and location- referenced Environmental sensors monitor irradiance, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and other conditions at each position in the plot where phenotyping measurements are made.

Rover FluorCam is smaller-scale manually transported mobile unit for fast and accurate crop phenotyping in the field. The system consists of drive mechanisms and integrates multiple sensors for non-invasive analysis of plant physiological and morphological features. Rover FluorCam is customized fluorescence imaging system for physiological screening in the greenhouse and in the field. Its wheels provide exceptional stability and easy movement among plants in the field. Large plants, such as corn, soybean etc. may be studied in situ without physical disturbance.

PSI’s PlantScreen^TM software allows the user to program movement of the system for automated deployment in the field. All measured morphometric, biochemical and physiological measurements are collated with environmental measurements at each screening location, and may be accessed and analyzed remotely.

PSI’s PlantScreen^TM field systems allow the user to monitor numerous aspects of plant growth, development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses in the plants’ natural environment.

The field systems are designed and configured to meet the users’ specific requirements with respect to the size and morphology of plants screened. Every component of the field systems is designed to withstand the severest weather conditions, and to operate flawless.

Software control

Comprehensive software package has been developed for system control, data acquisition, image analysis and data base configuration. User friendly graphical interface is designed to control all hardware system components actions, to control and monitor environmental conditions and to design experiments with an extremely high level of flexibility. High-end industrial PC with touch screen is used for system control. Scheduling assistant with calendar function allows running multiple experiments simultaneously, provides different modes for experiment randomization, for treatment per plant or group of plants with different experimental protocols and regimes.

All acquired imaging, environmental and watering/weighing data are stored in an SQL database, processed and available for inspection and further analysis in range of seconds after recording via user-friendly graphical interface. PlantScreen^TM Analyser provides tools for data browsing, grouping, analysis, user-defined reprocessing and export. Multiple clients can be connected to the database, with different privileges assigned based on a built-in authentication mechanism. An SMS and mail notification service is integral part of the complete phenotyping system. 24-hour online support service is key component of the PlantScreen^TM phenotyping solution.

Key features of IT solution:

• Comprehensive software package for system control, data acquisition, image analysis and data base configuration
• Randomization of measurements
• Species-specific analysis
• Open database structure
• Remote access
• Automatic SMS and email notification service
• 24-hour online support service
• Online environmental monitoring

Imaging sensors

Over past two decades PSI has pioneered numerous techniques for non-invasive measurements of plant physiological processes, which have been integrated into our unique line of PlantScreenTM phenotyping systems and optimized for the controlled environment and greenhouse applications. Our systems can be equipped with imaging technologies for RGB and morphometric analysis, thermal analysis, hyperspectral analysis and, critically, in-depth analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics. The latter technique, as a rapid tool for monitoring photosynthetic processes, is key to the identification of early onset of stress, and recovery from stress after amelioration.

All data acquired from imaging sensors are in raw format and processed format stored in an SQL database and are in range of seconds after recording available for further analysis. All raw and processed data files are directly accessible and therefore can be easily analyzed by user-defined processing scripts.

Range of non-invasive plant imaging technologies was developed for PlantScreen^TM Phenotyping Systems to study different aspects of plant growth and physiological performance:

Sensors available for the PlantScreen^TM Field System are:

• Stereoscopic RGB visible light imaging – for plant height evaluation and leaf overlap detection
• Kinetic chlorophyll fluorescence imaging – for rapid non-invasive measurement of photosystem II activity
• Hyperspectral imaging in VNIR and SWIR region – for analysis of plant reflective indices across the entire surface of the imaged sample in spectral range from 400 to 2500 nm
• Thermal Imaging – for image based analysis of plant’s responses to heat load and water deprivation
• Laser distance sensor – for plant height and optionally for 3D reconstruction
• IP camera – for online monitoring of the system during operation
• Environmental monitoring sensors

Why to use PlantScreen^TM Phenotyping System

In the search for beneficial traits that may allow crops to resist abiotic and biotic stresses, fast and accurate methods are required for efficient and effective plant high-throughput phenotyping. Such methods must involve automated measurements of plant morphology, biochemistry and physiology to determine potential and actual yield under a variety of monitored environmental conditions. With over 20 years’ experience of designing instrumentation for plant imaging PSI is now at the forefront of providing complete solutions PlantScreenTM Phenotyping Systems for automated multidimensional plant phenotyping.

PlantScreen^TM Phenotyping Systems designed for integrative phenotyping on temporal and spatial level are proven in a range of applications across the world:

• High-throughput screening
• Morphology and growth assessment
• Nutrient management
• Photosynthetic performance
• Abiotic stress
• Pathogen interaction
• Trait identification
• Chemical screening
• Nutrient effects

Customised solutions

PlantScreen^TM Field System is modular and designed so that additional features may be added as the user´s screening requirements evolve. Further standard layout in terms of dimensions, pot format and range of image-based sensors can be adapted in order to meet your specific research question.

Furthermore we make our state-of–art phenotyping facilities available for testing and proof-of-concept experiments. Contact us for more information.

Discuss your project and test your concept

The nature of the research questions is unique referring to distinct requirements you might have to answer your specific questions.Our goal is to consult with you extensively your project to ensure that our technology is configured to meet your needs precisely. At PSI we have team of plant physiologists, image-processing specialist and technical engineers that can help to shape your phenotyping projects to meet precisely your requirements.

We are proud that in our PSI Research Center we can provide service platform with professional support, where we can demonstrate our equipment and facilitate proof of concept validations of the projects prior realization. PSI Research Center provides service platform to scientific community for plant cultivation and image-based monitoring in controlled environment and in greenhouse. Our vision is to provide biological and technical support to our customers.