Root evaluation

• US 9,538,124 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• 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
• Application Number:
  US13/615,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20130070081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 47/581.R, 47/581.SE, 47/667
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 for evaluating plant roots, comprising (i) growing a plant in a substantially transparent container charged with a particulate, non-transparent growing medium; and (ii) evaluating plant roots through the transparent container by digital imaging. An apparatus for evaluating plant roots in a high throughput manner is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating roots of a potted plant in a non-destructive manner to identify a plant possessing a trait of interest, comprising:

(i) providing a potted plant grown in a particulate, non-transparent growing medium in a substantially transparent container for imaging;

(ii) evaluating roots of the potted plant through the transparent container and the particulate, non-transparent growing medium by using a camera that can output two-dimensional images in a digital format;

(iii) collecting digital images of the roots and storing information from the digital images in a computer; and

(iv) measuring root traits by analyzing the information with algorithms to identify a plant possessing a trait of interest,

wherein the roots of the potted plant are evaluated in a non-destructive manner to the plant and the roots, and

wherein the potted plant is retrieved from an original location for imaging and returned to its original location or to another location after imaging.

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

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

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the container is a plant pot.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the images are taken from below or from the side of the container.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the images are taken from the side of the container, and wherein the digital images are obtained by rotating the plant along a central vertical axis.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plant is rotated using a rotating plate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is a line-scan camera.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the root traits measured comprise root growth rate, root length, root thickness, root branching, and/or anchorage.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluation of plant roots is accomplished in a high throughput manner or in an automated manner.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said plant is provided with a unique identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein information concerning the plant is associated with the unique identifier.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the unique identifier is a transponder.

14. 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.

15. A method for evaluating roots of a potted plant in a non-destructive manner to identify a plant possessing a trait of interest, comprising:

(i) providing a potted plant grown in a particulate, non-transparent growing medium comprising soil in a substantially transparent container;

(ii) placing the potted plant in a position for image capturing with a camera that can output two-dimensional images in a digital format;

(iii) digital imaging roots of the potted plant through the transparent container and the particulate, non-transparent growing medium;

(iv) collecting digital images of the roots and storing information from the digital images in a computer; and

(v) measuring root traits by analyzing the information with algorithms to identify a plant possessing a trait of interest

wherein the roots of the potted plant are evaluated in a non-destructive manner to the plant and the roots, and

wherein the potted plant is retrieved from an original location for imaging and returned to its original location or to another location after imaging.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said transparent container contains a pigment that absorbs all light wavelengths except between 500 and 600 nanometers.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the container is a plant pot.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the images are taken from below or from the side of the container.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more plants are imaged from the side of the container, while rotating the container along a vertical axis.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more plants are rotated using a rotating plate.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the camera is a line-scan camera.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the root traits measured comprise root growth rate, root length, root thickness, root branching, and/or anchorage.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the evaluation of plant roots is accomplished in a high throughput manner or in an automated manner.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein information concerning the plant is associated with a unique identifier.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the unique identifier is a transponder.

26. A method for breeding plants in a greenhouse, comprising:

(i) growing plants and evaluating roots of the plants according to the method of claim 15;

(ii) identifying plants with different root traits, and

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

27. A method for evaluating roots of a potted plant in a non-destructive manner to identify a plant possessing a trait of interest, comprising:

(i) providing a potted plant grown in a particulate, non-transparent growing medium comprising soil in a container for imaging, wherein at least the bottom of said container is substantially transparent;

(ii) placing the potted plant into a water basin, wherein said water basin has a transparent bottom and is placed above a camera that can output images in a digital format;

(iii) digital imaging roots of the potted plant through the bottom of the container;

(iv) collecting digital images of the roots and storing information from the digital images in a computer; and

(v) measuring root traits by analyzing the information with algorithms to identify a plant possessing a trait of interest,

wherein the roots of the potted plant are evaluated in a non-destructive manner to the plant and the roots, and

wherein the potted plant is retrieved from an original location for imaging and returned to its original location or to another location after imaging.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said transparent container contains a pigment that absorbs all light wavelengths except between 500 and 600 nanometers.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the evaluation of plant roots is accomplished in a high throughput manner or in an automated manner.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the camera is a line-scan camera.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the root traits measured comprise root growth rate, root length, root thickness, root branching, and/or anchorage.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein information concerning the plant is associated with a unique identifier.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the unique identifier is a transponder.

34. A method for breeding plants in a greenhouse, comprising:

(i) growing plants and evaluating roots of the plants according to the method of claim 27;

(ii) identifying plants with different root traits, and

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