Plant root characterization system

A technique of plant root system, decay coefficient, applied in the field of x-ray images

Active Publication Date: 2008-04-30
PHENOTYPE SCREENING CORP
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Problems solved by technology

[0008] None of these existing methods provides a non-destructive, high-yield te

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Embodiment Construction

[0029]FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a plant root tracing system 10 for tracing the roots of a plant 12 . In the preferred embodiment, system 10 includes plant growth substrate 14, nutrient solution delivery system 15, plant container 16, nutrient solution removal system 17, radiation source 18, image capture system 22, image processing system 24, and plant variety display stand 25 . System 10 operates by passing radiation, such as x-rays, through a plant container 16 containing a substrate 14 in which the roots of plants 12 are growing. Image capture system 22 captures radiation passing through the root system to form an image of the root system. Image processing system 24 operates on captured image 26 to enhance its visual quality and extract useful features of its structure and growth.

[0030] Plant growth substrate 14 is the medium that supports the roots of plants 12 . Preferably, matrix 14 is formed of a material that supports seed germination and normal plan...

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for nondestructively acquiring images of a plant root system is described. The apparatus includes a substrate for supporting the plant root system, a container for holding the substrate, an x-ray radiation source for generating x-ray radiation and directing the radiation to pass through the plant root system, and an x-ray image capture system for receiving the x-ray radiation having passed through the plant root system and for generating an image of the plant root system based on the radiation. The x-ray radiation source generates x-ray radiation having an energy level in the range of about 8 keV to about 20 keV. In this energy range, the attenuation of the x-ray radiation due to air is minimized and the contrast between the root system and the container and substrate is sufficiently high to provide a resolvable image. The substrate and container are preferably formed of materials having a low mass density, such as less than about 3 pounds per cubic foot, and a low x-ray mass attenuation coefficient. The low density materials of the substrate and the container introduce comparatively low attenuation of the x-ray radiation when compared to the attenuation introduced by the roots, thereby enhancing the visibility of the root system in the image.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of imaging systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to producing x-ray images of plant roots while the plants are in growth substrates and containers. Background technique [0002] One aim of functional genomics research is to accelerate the improvement of plants for food, pharmaceutical, ornamental, biofuel, biopower, biochemistry, carbon sequestration and materials. Many functional genomics research projects focus on how alterations in various genes affect plant roots. Such projects typically employ high-throughput, large-scale experimental methodology coupled with statistical and computational analysis of the results. This is not uncommon for thousands of plants to be studied in order to deduce the function of a single gene in the plant. The ability to analyze plant root structure and function in a timely, cost-effective manner is critical in these types of research projects. [0003] H...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A01H3/00
CPCG01N23/04A01G7/00A01H3/02
Inventor 丹尼尔·W·麦克唐纳罗纳德·B·迈克尔斯
Owner PHENOTYPE SCREENING CORP
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