PlantScreen^TM Root Systems

PlantScreen^TM Root System is conveyer-based integrated robotic solution designed for digital root and shoot phenotyping. Plants up to 50 cm in height can be grown in the rhizotron system designed for adjustable rhizotron angle positioning and positional irrigation option. Rhizotron size of 440x295x58 mm (HxWxD) is providing appropriate rooting space for small up to mid-size scale plants (e.g. arabidopsis, young wheat, barley or maize plants).

The transport of plants is carried out on standard PlantScreen^TM trays that are adapted to carry light-insulated rhizotron unit. Multi-sensoric digital data are acquired typically from top and side views. Trays with rhizotrons are in user defined intervals transported to the light-insulated imaging cabinet with two high-resolution cameras for root imaging and side view shoot imaging. Homogenous LED illumination light source is used to ensure suitable sample illumination for high-precission object segmentation and feature selection.

Modular watering station with positional irrigation module (top, middle, bottom of the rhizotron) is implemented for precise watering of the plants grown in the rhizotron system. Up to three watering tanks can be implemented. Watering units with user-defined programmable regimes are designed for precise delivery of the given amount of water and/or fertiliser to the plants.

The configuration is optimized for the controlled environment and greenhouse applications and can be customized in terms of throughput and range of integrated digital sensors according to the research needs.

The platform may incorporate various modules for digital analysis of plant growth dynamics and physiological performance and a transportation system for automated delivery of plants to the imaging station and watering station. An external transportation system and/or loading station can be implemented to move plants between a cultivation area and compartment with imaging stations. Combined weighing/watering station is implemented for precise irrigation or nutrient delivery schemes. Unique bar-code or RFID identifiers are used for plant identification.

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.

Suite of environmental sensors (humidity, temperature, light intensity, light quality) is available for the PlantScreen^TM Phenotyping Systems. 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 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 plant handling regimes including dark/light adaptation or watering or nutrient delivery schemes.

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. Advanced analysis tools including machine learning algorithms and multi-factorial analysis are available as compatible tool box for PlantScreen^TM Analyser. 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
• Advanced analysis toolbox for multifactorial analysis and machine learning
• 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 Systems are 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.