Root evaluation

• US 8,341,880 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cropdesign N.V. (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Cropdesign N.V. (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Lejeune, Pierre, Broekaert, Willem, Leyns, Frederik, Dhont, Frederik
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsley, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Conlon, Marisa
• Application Number:
  US11/663,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,672 Days
• Field of Search: 47/581.R, 47/667
• US Class Current: 47/58.1R
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 1/00 Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 22/20 Cereals
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 22/22 Rice
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/00 Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics growth substrates therefor A01G24/00; cultivation of seaweed A01G33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/00 Botany in general
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/00 Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses of mushrooms A01G18/00; soilless cultivation A01G31/00; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

A method is provided comprising (i) growing a plant in a substantially transparent container charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium; and (ii) evaluating plant roots through said transparent container by digital imaging. An apparatus for evaluating plant roots in a high throughput manner is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for non-destructive evaluation of roots of potted plants to identify plants possessing a trait of interest, comprising:

(i) growing one or more plants in a container in which at least the bottom is substantially transparent, and wherein the container is charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium;

(ii) sequentially positioning the container with one or more plants for digital imaging of the roots of the plants by a camera below the bottom of the container; and

(iii) storing and analyzing information obtained from the plants to identify plants possessing a trait of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entire container is substantially transparent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least the bottom of said container contains a pigment that absorbs all light wavelengths except between 500 and 600 nanometers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said particulate, non-transparent growing medium comprises soil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluation of plant roots is accomplished in a high throughput manner.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each plant is provided with an unique identifier.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein information concerning the plant is associated with the unique identifier.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information is stored in a computer.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said unique identifier is a transponder.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises using a statistical analysis to identify plants with differing root characteristics and identifying a plant with a trait of interest.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises selecting the plant with a trait of interest for further breeding or for commercial use.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the statistical analysis is conducted with the aid of a computer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the trait of interest is (i) increased root growth, (ii) increased root growth rate, (iii) increased root length, (iv) increased root thickness, (v) increased root branching, and/or (vi) improved anchorage.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluation of plant roots comprises evaluating one or more root characteristics selected from (i) root growth, (ii) root growth rate, (iii) root length, (iv) root thickness, (v) root branching, and/or (vi) anchorage.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is a line-scan camera that can output images in a digital format.

16. A method for breeding plants in a greenhouse comprising:

(i) growing plants and evaluating roots of the plants according to the method of claim 1;

(ii) identifying plants with different root traits, and

(iii) selecting plants having desirable root traits by comparing the root traits of the plants, and

(iv) further breeding the plants selected.

17. An apparatus for evaluating plant roots, comprising:

(i) one or more containers in which at least the bottom is substantially transparent,

wherein the one or more containers are charged with particulate, non-transparent growing medium for growing plants therein;

(ii) a camera that can output images in a digital format; and

(iii) a transporter for movement of the one or more containers or the camera;

wherein the transporter positions the one or more containers or the camera for digital imagining by said camera below the bottom of the one or more containers.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein one or more plants are grown in each of the one or more containers, and wherein said one or more plants are associated with a unique identifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said unique identifier is a transponder.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said transporter comprises a moving belt.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the camera is a line-scan camera.

22. A high-throughput method for non-destructive evaluation of roots of potted plants to identify plants possessing a trait of interest, comprising:

(i) growing plants in a substantially transparent container charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium;

(ii) providing each plant with a unique identifier;

(iii) sequentially positioning each plant for digital imaging by a camera positioned below the bottom of the container of the roots through the transparent container and obtaining information concerning the roots of each plant associated with the plant'"'"'s unique identifier;

(iv) providing the obtained information for each plant to an associated computer for identifying plants possessing a trait of interest.

23. A method for non-destructive evaluation of roots of potted plants in a high throughput manner to identify plants possessing a trait of interest, comprising:

(i) growing one or more plants in a container in which at least the bottom is substantially transparent and contains a pigment that absorbs all light wavelengths except between 500 and 600 nanometres, wherein the container is charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium comprising soil, and wherein each plant is provided with an unique identifier;

(ii) sequentially positioning the container with one or more plants for digital imaging of the roots of the plants by a camera below the bottom of the container, wherein the camera is a line-scan camera that can output images in a digital format; and

(iii) storing and analyzing information obtained from the plants to identify plants possessing a trait of interest.