PlantScreen^TM SC System

PlantScreen^TM SC Systems are complete stand-alone robotic solutions designed for automated plant phenotyping on temporal and spatial level in the controlled environment and greenhouse applications. The platform incorporates various modules for digital analysis of plant growth dynamics and physiological performance, dedicated illumination source for light adaptation of plants prior and/or during the analysis and for plant short-term cultivation under defined conditions. Specific imaging sensors are implemented in closed imaging cabins containing light-isolated doors for maintenance of standardized light environment.

PlantScreen^TM SC System is designed for digital phenotyping of small and mid-size scale plants up to 50 cm in height (Arabidopsis thaliana, strawberries, turf grass, young soybean, tobacco, corn plants, etc.) and can be configured for single pots, multiple pots or trays, providing flexibility of use with various species grown in vitro or in soil. Plants in trays are manually placed inside of the light-isolated imaging cabinet and automatically scored with given digital sensor in user-defined intervals. Multi-sensoric digital data are typically acquired from top view. Unique bar-code or RFID identifiers are used for plant identification.

Imaging sensors

Various types of imaging sensors can be integrated in the PlantScreen^TM SC Systems. Currently hyperspectral imaging camera, thermal imaging camera and kinetic chlorophyll fluorescence imaging camera with appropriate illumination sources are available for integration into the automated PlantScreen^TM SC System.

All data acquired from imaging sensors are in raw format and processed format stored in an SQL database and are in range of minute 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.

A comprehensive PlantScreen^TM Software package, with remote accessibility, is used to control all aspects of the transportation and imaging modules, as well as for data acquisition, image analysis and data base configuration. The system is modular and designed so that additional features may be added as the user´s screening requirements evolve.

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Furthermore suite of environmental sensors (humidity, temperature, light intensity, light quality) can be implemented inside of the PlantScreen^TM SC System. The physiological parameters deduced from the measurements acquired by imaging units can be correlated with the environmental parameters acquired from a number of environmental sensors implemented within the phenotyping unit.

Software control

Comprehensive software package has been developed for system control, data acquisition, image analysis and database 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 plant handling regimes including dark/light adaptation.

All acquired imaging and environmental 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 Data 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 PlantScreenTM phenotyping solution.

Key features of IT solution

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

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 PlantScreen^TM 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 SC 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.