A root box for obtaining crop phenotypes

Abstract

A root box for obtaining crop phenotypes. The present invention forms a bracket supporting side baffles and a light-transmitting plate through a root box frame and a bottom plate. The bracket connects the side baffles and the light-transmitting plate to form a root storage space with a flat rectangular structure. A root box upper end cover is also provided on the top of the root box. The above-ground part of the crop grows out from the through hole in the middle of the root box upper end cover, and the roots of the underground part grow in the root storage space. Due to the restrictions of the light-transmitting plates on the front and back sides, the roots grow close to the inner side walls of the light-transmitting plates, and the detailed characteristics of the root structure can be directly observed through the light-transmitting plates. Therefore, the present invention can conveniently obtain images containing the underground phenotypic characteristics of the crop through the light-transmitting plates by removing the light-shielding plates on the outside of the root box and using ordinary image acquisition equipment to analyze them. The acquisition process is simple and convenient, the hardware cost is low, and it will not affect the growth of the crop. It can conveniently track the changes in the underground phenotypic characteristics of the crop on a regular basis throughout its growth cycle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of crop phenotyping, and in particular to a root box for obtaining crop phenotypes. Background Art

[0002] In order to cultivate excellent crop varieties, it is necessary to continuously measure the changes in phenotypic characteristics and physiological parameters caused by organ growth during the growth of crops. At present, traditional artificial climate chambers have the function of cultivating crops. The functional research of measuring phenotypes mainly relies on manual observation and measurement to describe the external characteristics of crops, so as to obtain the relationship between genotype, environmental factors and crop phenotypes. This work often relies on manual detection of individual traits of small sample plants. Therefore, the amount of data is limited and the efficiency is low. It is difficult to carry out comprehensive analysis of multiple traits of plants. Moreover, since it requires manual detection, human factors are introduced, which can easily lead to errors in measurement data. With the rapid development of plant genomics research and molecular breeding, high-throughput, high-precision and low-cost phenotypic analysis devices are urgently needed to meet the needs of obtaining phenotypic data related to plant growth, yield, quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

[0003] The root system is the plant's water and salt absorption organ and plays a supporting role for the plant. Its phenotype is one of the most direct indicators reflecting the phenotypic traits and breeding level of crops.

[0004] Existing underground phenotyping can only be performed using CT. CT cannot detect and analyze fine structures within the root system, such as capillaries. Furthermore, crop cultivation environments are not suitable for CT equipment.

[0005] Other traditional root phenotyping methods, such as nail board methods, container methods, and root washing methods, are destructive to crop roots and are time-consuming and labor-intensive. The recording and measurement data of these traditional measurement methods are prone to errors and are inefficient. While commonly used computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies can detect and reconstruct relatively obvious root structures, they are expensive, inefficient, and the X-rays they use can cause certain radiation hazards to humans and plants. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies and provides a root box for obtaining crop phenotypic data. The flattened root box allows crop roots to grow close to the box's edges, eliminating the need for root cleaning. Accurate root phenotypic data can be obtained through simple photography. The present invention specifically employs the following technical solutions.

[0007] First, to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, a root box for obtaining crop phenotypes is proposed, which includes: a root box skeleton, which has multiple columns and a bottom plate connected to the bottom end of each column, the columns and the bottom plate forming a root accommodating space with a flat rectangular structure to accommodate the roots of crops; side baffles, which are arranged on the left and right sides of the root accommodating space and fixedly connected to the columns; light-transmitting plates, which are arranged on the front and rear sides of the root accommodating space, connected to the columns, and cooperate with the columns and the side baffles to close the root accommodating space; a light-shielding plate, which is close to the light-transmitting plate, is arranged on the outside of each light-transmitting plate, and is detachably connected to each column in the root accommodating space; a root box upper end cover, which is fixedly connected to the upper end of each column, and a through hole is reserved in the middle of the root box upper end cover for accommodating crop growth; the spacing between the light-transmitting plates in the flat rectangular structure ranges from 10mm to 20mm.

[0008] Optionally, in the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, the width of the side baffle does not exceed 10 mm, and the width of the light-transmitting plate exceeds 10 mm.

[0009] Optionally, the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, wherein the columns on the front and rear sides of the root accommodating space are respectively provided with first slide grooves parallel to the axes of the columns, and the two side edges of the light-transmitting plate are respectively inserted into the first slide grooves on the surfaces of two adjacent columns, and the light-transmitting plate moves downward along the first slide groove until it abuts against the front edge or rear edge of the bottom plate.

[0010] Optionally, the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, wherein the columns on the front and rear sides of the root accommodating space are respectively provided with first installation grooves parallel to the axis of the column, and a magnetic strip is provided in the first installation groove, and the magnetic strip is inserted into the first installation groove with an interference fit; the light-shielding plate, at least the edge of which is set to a magnetic conductive material, and the magnetic conductive material is attracted by the magnetic strip and fixed to the surface of the column, blocking the outside of the light-transmitting plate.

[0011] Optionally, the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, wherein the outer edge of the upper end cover of the root box protrudes from the plane where the sunshade is located, and is fixed to the upper end face of the column by screws; the through hole in the middle of the upper end cover of the root box is rectangular, and a root box cover plate is embedded in the rectangular through hole, and a center hole is provided in the middle of the root box cover plate to accommodate crop growth.

[0012] Optionally, the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, wherein the root box is fixed by a root box frame, the root box frame is a long board structure, and a plurality of root box mounting grooves are provided along the length direction of the long board structure, each of the root boxes passes through each of the root box mounting grooves, and the lower edge of the upper end cover of the root box abuts against the upper surface of the root box mounting groove to fix each of the root boxes under the long board structure.

[0013] Optionally, the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, wherein the length direction of each root box installation groove is parallel to the length direction of the long plate structure, and the light-transmitting plate and the light-shielding plate of the root box are arranged along the long side of the long plate structure.

[0014] Optionally, in the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, handles are respectively provided at both ends of the root box frame, and a groove structure is provided below the handle to fix the root box frame.

[0015] Optionally, the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, wherein, when cultivating crops, the root box rack is set on the crop cultivation rack, and the crop cultivation rack is provided with a fixing rod, and the fixing rod is engaged with the groove structure below the root box rack to support and fix each of the root boxes; when obtaining the crop phenotype, the root box rack is removed from the crop cultivation rack and placed on the root box fixing rack, and the upper end of the root box fixing rack is engaged with the groove structure to fix the root box, and the light shielding plate of each root box is disengaged from the attraction with the magnetic strip, and the sampling equipment photographs the root structure of the crop inside the root box through the light-transmitting plate of each root box.

[0016] Optionally, the above-mentioned root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, wherein the crop cultivation rack is configured as a multi-layer structure, and each layer of the crop cultivation rack is respectively arranged with a plurality of root box racks parallel to each other; partitions are respectively provided on the top layer of the crop cultivation rack and between each layer structure, and nozzles are arranged in the middle of the partitions for spraying water and nutrients to the crops below, and a plurality of fill lights are evenly arranged in the length direction of the partitions for providing lighting, and the upper surface of the partitions is configured to be convex on all sides and concave in the middle, and the upper surface of the partitions is used to collect water and nutrients sprayed by the upper layer.

[0017] Beneficial effects

[0018] The present invention forms a bracket supporting the side baffles and the light-transmitting plate through the root box frame and the bottom plate, and the bracket connects the side baffles and the light-transmitting plate to form a root accommodation space of a flat rectangular structure. A root box upper end cover is also provided on the top of the root box. The above-ground part of the crop grows out from the through hole in the middle of the root box upper end cover, and the roots of the underground part grow in the root accommodation space. Due to the restrictions of the light-transmitting plates on the front and back sides, the roots grow close to the inner side walls of the light-transmitting plates, and the detailed features of the root structure can be directly observed through the light-transmitting plates. Therefore, the present invention can conveniently obtain images containing the underground phenotypic characteristics of the crop through the light-transmitting plates by removing the light-shielding plates on the outside of the root box and using ordinary image acquisition equipment to analyze them. The acquisition process is simple and convenient, the hardware cost is low, and it will not affect the growth of the crop. It can conveniently track the changes in the underground phenotypic characteristics of the crop on a regular basis throughout its growth cycle.

[0019] Furthermore, in order to prevent light from affecting the underground phenotypic characteristics of crops, the present invention further provides a detachable structure for the sunshade. In order to facilitate the acquisition of phenotypes, the sunshade can be detachably connected to the bracket structure through the magnetic attraction of the magnetic strip. When acquiring the crop phenotype, the root box frame provided with the root box is fixed to the root box fixing frame through the groove structure on its lower surface, and the sunshade is removed. In this way, the light-transmitting plates on both sides of the root box frame can directly display the underground phenotypic characteristics of the crop. In this way, the underground phenotypic characteristics of the crop can be directly acquired by directly moving the image acquisition device in a straight line from both sides of the root box frame.

[0020] Furthermore, to better cultivate crops, the root box holder can be mounted on a crop cultivation rack equipped with a sprinkler, supplemental lighting, and sensor equipment. The sprinkler and supplemental lighting provide nutrients and light to the crops, while the sensor equipment can detect nutrient data obtained by the crops in real time. This data is recorded by a data processing system, enabling tracking of crop cultivation data and its phenotypic characteristics, and recording the correlation between the two data types.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the assembly process of the root box for obtaining crop phenotypes of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the installation method between the root box of the present invention and the root box frame;

[0025] Figure 3 This is an overall schematic diagram of the partition structure of the crop cultivation rack provided in the root box rack of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the root box frame in the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 It is a partial schematic diagram of the crop cultivation rack provided on the root box rack of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the root box rack being arranged on the root box fixing frame in the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 It is an exploded view of the overall system of crop breeding and phenotyping;

[0030] Figure 8 It is a burr structure at the bottom of the open groove.

[0031] In the figure, 1 represents a root box cover; 2 represents an upper end cover of the root box; 3 represents a root box frame; 4 represents a light-transmitting plate; 41 represents a knurled structure of a light-shielding plate; 42 represents a side baffle; 5 represents a magnetic strip; 6 represents a partition; 61 represents a fill light; 62 represents a nozzle; 63 represents a connector; 7 represents a root box frame; 71 represents a handle; 72 represents a groove structure; 8 represents a crop cultivation frame; 81 represents a fixing rod; 82 represents an L-shaped plate; 83 represents a weighing sensor; and 9 represents a root box fixing frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] To make the purpose and technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the described embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art in the art to which the present invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in common dictionaries should be understood to have meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the prior art and, unless defined as such herein, will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0034] The meaning of "and / or" in the present invention means that both situations where each exists alone or both exist at the same time are included.

[0035] The meaning of "inside" and "outside" in the present invention refers to the direction pointing to the root system of the crops contained in the root box relative to the root box itself, that is, the direction pointing to the root system of the crops contained in the root box is inside, and the opposite direction is outside; it is not a specific limitation on the device mechanism of the present invention.

[0036] The meaning of "left" and "right" in the present invention refers to that when the user is facing the light-transmitting plate, the left side of the user is left and the right side of the user is right, rather than being a specific limitation on the device mechanism of the present invention.

[0037] The term “connection” as used in the present invention may refer to a direct connection between components or an indirect connection between components via other components.

[0038] The meaning of "up" and "down" in the present invention refers to that when the user is facing the light-transmitting plate, the direction from the bottom plate to the upper end cover of the root box is up, and the opposite direction is down, rather than a specific limitation on the device mechanism of the present invention.

[0039] The meaning of "front" and "back" in the present invention refers to that when a user is facing the light-transmitting plate, the front of the user is the front, and vice versa, it is not a specific limitation on the device mechanism of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 1 The present invention provides a high-throughput, high-precision, and low-cost crop phenotyping device, which is specifically configured as a flat root box. The root box includes:

[0041] A root box frame 3, which has a plurality of columns and a bottom plate connecting the bottom ends of the columns, wherein the columns and the bottom plate form a root accommodating space of a flat rectangular structure to accommodate the roots of the crops;

[0042] Side baffles 42, which are arranged on the left and right sides of the root system accommodation space and are fixedly connected to the columns;

[0043] Light-transmitting panels 4 are provided at the front and rear sides of the root accommodation space, connected to the columns, and cooperate with the columns and the side baffles to enclose the root accommodation space;

[0044] a light shielding plate, which is close to the light-transmitting plate 4, is arranged on the outside of each light-transmitting plate 4, and is detachably connected to each column in the root system accommodation space;

[0045] The root box upper end cover 2 is fixedly connected to the upper end of each of the upright posts, and a through hole is reserved in the middle of the root box upper end cover 2 for accommodating crop growth;

[0046] Among them, the spacing between the light-transmitting plates in the flat rectangular root-holding space structure ranges from 10 mm to 20 mm, which can compress the thickness of the root box for accommodating crop roots to 10 mm. As a result, the crop roots grow close to the edge of the root box, which is convenient for side shooting. During shooting, more fine phenotypic features that cannot be collected by CT imaging technology can be obtained. During shooting, only the sensor's own light source is used to reduce the impact of light on the acquisition of root phenotypes. Therefore, the present invention can solve the problem that existing climate chambers cannot accurately and automatically obtain and analyze crop phenotypes.

[0047] In order to realize the supply of nutrients and light to the crops inside the root box, the root box can be further arranged Figure 2 On the root box frame 7 shown, each root box is fixed uniformly on Figure 4 On the organism cultivation rack 8 shown.

[0048] Specifically, refer to Figure 2 The root box frame 7 is a long plate structure with multiple root box mounting slots disposed along the length of the long plate structure. Each root box passes through each of the root box mounting slots, with the lower edge of the root box upper end cover 2 abutting against the upper surface of the root box mounting slot, securing each root box beneath the long plate structure. To facilitate the image acquisition device in extracting root phenotypic characteristics within the light-transmitting plate, the length of each root box mounting slot is parallel to the length of the long plate structure. The light-transmitting plate 4 and light-shielding plate of the root box are arranged along the long side of the long plate structure to facilitate direct imaging and acquisition of crop phenotypes from the side of the root box frame 7.

[0049] When obtaining the crop phenotype, the root box frame 7 is removed from the crop cultivation frame 8, and the root box frame 7 is removed from the crop cultivation frame 8. Figure 6 As shown, the root boxes are placed on the root box fixing frame 9, and the light shielding plates of each root box are disconnected from the uprights of the root box frame. The sampling equipment passes through the light-transmitting plates 4 of each root box and moves sequentially from both sides of the long side of the root box frame 7 to photograph the root structure of the crops inside each root box.

[0050] In the process of cultivating crops, the root box frame 7 can be used to fix each root box uniformly. Figure 4 In the biological culture rack 8 shown in Figure 4 As shown, the crop cultivation rack 8 is set to a multi-layer structure, and each layer of the crop cultivation rack 8 is respectively arranged with a plurality of root box racks 7 parallel to each other; the top layer of the crop cultivation rack 8 and the layers between the layers can be further respectively provided with Figure 3 The partition 6 shown in the figure has a nozzle 62 arranged in the middle of the partition 6 for spraying water and nutrients to the crops below. A plurality of fill lights 61 are also evenly arranged along the length of the partition 6 for providing light. Figure 5As shown in the partial schematic diagram, the upper surface of the partition 6 can be set to be convex on all sides and concave in the middle. The upper surface of the partition 6 is used to collect moisture and nutrients sprayed by the upper layer.

[0051] Therefore, the root box of the present invention can be used for both the cultivation of crops and the extraction of underground phenotypes. There is no need to operate the crops during the extraction process. It can protect the integrity of the crop root system, obtain detailed characteristics of the crop root system, and track the phenotype and nutritional data of each crop during the complete growth cycle of the crop, thereby obtaining data samples in a wider dimension.

[0052] In a more specific implementation mode, the present invention can be applied to similar Figure 7 The overall system for crop cultivation and phenotyping is shown. The system includes a control and display area I, a crop cultivation area II, a phenotyping area III, and an environmental equipment area IV. Among them:

[0053] Crop Cultivation Area II is connected to Control and Display Area I and Phenotype Acquisition Area III via electric sliding doors. One of these doors, made of transparent glass, is installed between Control and Analysis Area I and Crop Cultivation Area II, facilitating access to and from Crop Cultivation Area II and allowing for observation of conditions within Crop Cultivation Area II from Control and Analysis Area I.

[0054] The electrically operated sliding door of Phenotype Acquisition Area III, constructed from opaque material and installed between Crop Cultivation Area II and Phenotype Acquisition Area III, facilitates access to and from Phenotype Acquisition Area III. Closing the door prevents ambient light from obstructing the normal operation of the top-view and side-view phenotyping sensor groups during crop phenotyping, facilitating the processing and analysis of phenotypic data. The phenotyping sensor group can be implemented using an image acquisition device such as a camera.

[0055] Crop cultivation area II is equipped with a crop cultivation rack 8, which includes partitions, root boxes, a root box rack, a nutrient solution tank with a pump, water pipes, sprinklers, a fill light, and an environmental sensor set. The nutrient solution tank with a pump is mounted at the bottom of the crop cultivation rack. The climate chamber control and analysis system controls the nutrient solution contained in the pumped nutrient solution tank to be delivered to each partition of the crop cultivation rack through the water pipes in the crop cultivation rack 8. The sprinklers in the partitions then spray the crops below the partitions.

[0056] The nozzles and supplemental lighting are installed below the partitions to provide the nutrients and light necessary for crop growth. The aforementioned Crop Cultivation Zone II and Phenotype Acquisition Zone III can be integrated into a climate chamber controlled by Environmental Equipment Zone IV. This climate chamber includes a control and analysis system that adjusts the amount of nutrient solution sprayed by the nozzles and the intensity of the supplemental lighting in real time based on crop cultivation needs.

[0057] In the crop cultivation rack 8 of the crop cultivation area II, the partition can be installed between the various layers of the crop cultivation rack. Multiple layers of partitions can be installed according to the number of crops to be cultivated. Each layer of partition can be set to a structure with convex sides on the upper surface and concave in the middle, which is convenient for collecting excess nutrient solution sprinkled by the sprinkler in the upper crop growth area.

[0058] The two ends of the root box frame 7 are respectively provided with handles 71, and a groove structure 72 is provided below the handle 71 to fix the root box frame 7. Figure 5 As for the crop cultivation rack 8 shown, the root box rack 7 is set on the crop cultivation rack 8, and the crop cultivation rack 8 is provided with a fixing rod 81, which is clamped into the groove structure 72 below the root box rack 7 to support and fix each root box. Figure 6 In the type acquisition area III shown, when acquiring crop phenotypes, the root box rack 7 is removed from the crop cultivation rack 8 and placed on the root box fixing rack 9. The upper end of the root box fixing rack 9 is clamped with the groove structure 72 to fix the root box, preventing the root box rack from shaking back and forth and supporting the root box rack. During the sampling process, the light shielding plate of each root box is separated from the attraction of the magnetic strip 5, and the sampling equipment photographs the root structure of the crop inside the root box through the light-transmitting plate 4 of each root box. The root box fixing rack 9 can be referred to Figure 6 or Figure 7 As shown, the root box holder is mounted on the upper surface of the seedbed by fastening bolts and is used to place the root box rack. The root box holder 9 can be set at corresponding intervals according to the requirements for obtaining crop top view phenotyping data. Multiple root box holders can be installed to support multiple root box racks, and multi-angle graphical data of multiple groups of crops can be obtained by the top view phenotyping acquisition system and the side view phenotyping acquisition system respectively.

[0059] The fixing rod 81 of the crop cultivation rack 8 is provided below Figure 5 The L-shaped plate 82 of the shown connection crop cultivation frame 8 vertical pillars, one side of the L-shaped plate 82 connects this vertical pillar other side upper surface and is provided with load cell 83.Root box frame 7 is installed on load cell top by screw connection, is used to support root box.The fixed rod 81 that is provided with above load cell can install a plurality of root box frames 7 according to the quantity requirement of cultivating crop.Load cell wherein is installed on the L-shaped plate by screw, is used to monitor root box frame 7 weight change in real time, obtains the supply of nutrient solution according to weight change, is transmitted to control and analysis system and carries out corresponding data record.L-shaped plate is installed on the crop cultivation frame by screw, is used to support load cell, root box and root box frame.

[0060] In a more specific implementation, the root box is composed of Figure 1The root box shown consists of an upper end cover, a root box frame, a light-transmitting plate, a light-shielding plate, side panels, magnetic strips, and screws. The root box is placed in a rectangular hole in the root box frame. The outer dimensions of the upper end cover are larger than those of the rectangular hole in the root box frame, making it easier for the root box to be placed on the upper surface of the root box frame. The root box provides the necessary hydroponic and soil cultivation environment for crop growth. Its rectangular shape and light-transmitting interior and light-shielding exterior facilitate the cultivation and phenotyping of crop roots, stems, and leaves.

[0061] In order to obtain more characteristic information of the underground phenotype of the crop, the width of the side baffle 42 is set to no more than 10 mm, and the width of the light-transmitting plate 4 exceeds 10 mm, which restricts the root growth of the crop on the front and back sides. The roots of the crop thus grow close to the light-transmitting plate, so that they can be easily captured by general image acquisition equipment.

[0062] The root box frame can be manufactured using 3D printing technology. Each frame has two slots on its inner side, for a total of eight slots. Four additional slots can be found on the upper surface of the bottom to facilitate installation and removal of the light-transmitting plate and the lower edge of the side baffle. Each frame also has two slots on its outer front side, for a total of four slots, for an interference fit with the magnetic strip.

[0063] The slots on the front and rear columns of the root system accommodation space correspond to first slides parallel to the axis of the column. The two side edges of the light-transmitting plate 4 are respectively inserted into the first slides on the surfaces of two adjacent columns. The light-transmitting plate 4 moves downward along the first slides until it abuts the front edge or the rear edge of the bottom plate. The light-transmitting plate and side baffles are installed on the root box frame along the slots on the inner side of each frame and the slots on the bottom upper surface. The root phenotype can be obtained through the light-transmitting plate.

[0064] The card slots on the front and rear sides of the column of the root system accommodating space correspond to the first installation slot parallel to the axis of the column. A magnetic strip 5 is provided in the first installation slot, and the magnetic strip 5 is inserted into the first installation slot with interference fit.

[0065] The shading plate may be formed of a magnetic material at least at its edges, or may be entirely made of iron sheet or other opaque magnetic material. The magnetic material is attracted by the magnetic strips 5 and fixed to the surface of the pillar. The magnetic strips may be four in number, located in outer slots on the front of each frame. The shading plate is magnetically attracted to the magnetic strips to achieve the shading effect.

[0066] In order to facilitate the fixing of the root box on the root box frame to achieve unified transportation and fixation, the outer edge of the root box upper end cover 2 protrudes from the plane where the light shield is located and is fixed to the upper end face of the column by screws. The root box is placed in the rectangular hole of the root box frame. The outer dimensions of the root box upper end cover are larger than the outer dimensions of the rectangular hole on the root box frame, which facilitates the root box to be placed on the upper surface of the root box frame; the root box can provide the necessary hydroponic and soil cultivation environment for crop growth, and its rectangular shape and light-transmitting and light-shielding properties facilitate the cultivation and phenotypic extraction of the roots, stems and leaves of crops. The through hole in the middle of the root box upper end cover 2 can be specifically set to a rectangle, and a root box cover plate 1 is also embedded in the rectangular through hole. A center hole or a conical hole is provided in the middle of the root box cover plate 1 to accommodate crop growth.

[0067] During cultivation, crop seeds or germinated seeds with roots can be placed in the conical holes of the root box cover 1. The conical holes can fix the relative position of the crops, thereby facilitating the automatic acquisition of crop phenotypes.

[0068] The root box cover plate 1 is installed in the opening groove of the root box upper end cover through a plurality of convex structures on the side. The plurality of convex structures on the side can ensure that the root box cover plate 1 is stuck in the opening groove of the root box upper end cover. Figure 8 In the process of installing the root box cover 1, the burr structure at the bottom of the opening groove of the root box upper end cover can ensure that the root box cover 1 will not be pressed into the root box due to excessive external force during installation;

[0069] The sunshade can also be installed on the column of the root box frame by plugging along the slots on the inner side of each frame of the root box frame and the slots on the upper surface of the bottom, so as to block light.

[0070] When the root box is placed in the crop cultivation area, the shading plate is in the installed state, which is convenient for blocking the ambient light and reducing the impact of ambient light on the crop root system; when the root box is placed in the phenotype acquisition area, the shading plate can be sucked out or pulled out of the card slot with a magnet, which is convenient for obtaining the root phenotype.

[0071] When the root box is placed in the crop cultivation area, the shading plate is in the installed state to block the ambient light and reduce the impact of ambient light on the crop roots; when the root box is placed in the phenotyping area, the shading plate can be removed to facilitate the acquisition of root phenotypes;

[0072] A knurled structure 42 may also be provided on the surface of the sunshade to facilitate the operator to install and remove the sunshade according to usage requirements.

[0073] Thus, the present invention, through the design of a crop root box, facilitates crop cultivation and simultaneously enables high-throughput, high-precision, and low-cost crop phenotyping and analysis. By utilizing the environmental control within the chamber, high-throughput, high-precision, and low-cost crop phenotyping and analysis of aboveground organs such as stems and leaves, and underground organs such as roots, can be performed simultaneously under the influence of different environmental factors.

[0074] The above is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and its description is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be understood as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be pointed out that those skilled in the art can make a number of modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A root box for obtaining crop phenotypes, characterized in that: include: A root box frame (3) has a plurality of upright posts and a bottom plate connected to the bottom ends of the upright posts, wherein the upright posts and the bottom plate form a root system accommodation space of a flat rectangular parallelepiped structure to accommodate the root system of the crop; Side baffles (42) are arranged on the left and right sides of the root system accommodation space and are fixedly connected to the columns; Light-transmitting panels (4) are arranged on the front and rear sides of the root system accommodation space, connected to the columns, and cooperate with the columns and side baffles to close the root system accommodation space; A light shielding plate, which is close to the light-transmitting plate (4), is arranged on the outside of each light-transmitting plate (4), and is detachably connected to each column in the root system accommodation space; The root box upper end cover (2) is fixedly connected to the upper end of each column. A through hole is left in the middle of the root box upper end cover (2) for accommodating crop growth. The spacing between the light-transmitting plates in the flat rectangular parallelepiped structure ranges from 10 mm to 20 mm. The outer edge of the upper end cover (2) of the root box protrudes from the plane where the light shield is located and is fixed to the upper end surface of the column by screws; The through hole in the middle of the root box upper end cover (2) is rectangular, and a root box cover plate (1) is embedded in the rectangular through hole. A central hole is provided in the middle of the root box cover plate (1) for accommodating the growth of crops. Furthermore, the root box is fixed by a root box frame (7), which is a long plate structure. A plurality of root box installation slots are provided along the length direction of the long plate structure. Each root box passes through each root box installation slot, and the lower edge of the root box upper end cover (2) abuts against the upper surface of the root box installation slot, thereby fixing each root box under the long plate structure. When cultivating crops, the root box rack (7) is arranged on the crop cultivation rack (8), and the crop cultivation rack (8) is provided with a fixing rod (81), which is engaged with a groove structure (72) below the root box rack (7) to support and fix each root box; An L-shaped plate (82) connected to the vertical support of the crop cultivation rack (8) is provided below the fixed rod (81), one side of the L-shaped plate (82) is connected to the vertical support, and a weight sensor (83) is provided on the upper surface of the other side; The root box frame (7) is mounted on the upper part of the weighing sensor by screw connection and is used to support the root box; A fixing rod (81) provided above the weighing sensor is installed with a plurality of root box racks (7) according to the quantity requirement of the cultivated crops, wherein the weighing sensor is mounted on the L-shaped plate by screws, and is used to monitor the weight change of the root box rack (7) in real time, obtain the supply amount of nutrient solution according to the weight change, and transmit the data to the control and analysis system for corresponding data recording; the L-shaped plate is mounted on the crop cultivation rack by screws, and is used to support the weighing sensor, the root box, and the root box rack.

2. The root box for obtaining crop phenotypes according to claim 1, wherein The width of the side baffle (42) does not exceed 10 mm, and the width of the light-transmitting plate (4) exceeds 10 mm.

3. The root box for obtaining crop phenotypes according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The columns on the front and rear sides of the root system accommodating space are respectively provided with first sliding grooves parallel to the axis of the columns, and the two side edges of the light-transmitting plate (4) are respectively inserted into the first sliding grooves on the surfaces of the two adjacent columns, and the light-transmitting plate (4) moves downward along the first sliding grooves until it abuts against the front side edge or the rear side edge of the bottom plate.

4. The root box for obtaining crop phenotypes according to claim 3, wherein The columns on the front and rear sides of the root system accommodation space are respectively provided with first installation grooves parallel to the axis of the columns, and magnetic strips (5) are provided in the first installation grooves, and the magnetic strips (5) are inserted into the first installation grooves in an interference fit manner; The light shielding plate has at least an edge thereof provided with a magnetic conductive material. The magnetic conductive material is attracted by a magnetic strip (5), fixed on the surface of the column, and shielded on the outside of the light-transmitting plate (4).

5. The root box for obtaining crop phenotypes according to claim 4, characterized in that: The length direction of each root box installation groove is parallel to the length direction of the long plate structure, and the light-transmitting plate (4) and the light-shielding plate of the root box are arranged along the long side of the long plate structure.

6. The root box for obtaining crop phenotypes according to claim 5, characterized in that: Both ends of the root box frame (7) are respectively provided with handles (71), and a groove structure (72) is provided below the handles (71) to fix the root box frame (7).

7. The root box for obtaining crop phenotypes according to claim 6, wherein: When obtaining crop phenotypes, the root box rack (7) is removed from the crop cultivation rack (8) and placed on the root box fixing rack (9). The upper end of the root box fixing rack (9) is clamped with a groove structure (72) to fix the root box. The light shielding plate of each root box is separated from the magnetic strip (5), and the sampling device photographs the root structure of the crop inside the root box through the light-transmitting plate (4) of each root box.

8. The root box for obtaining crop phenotypes according to claim 7, wherein: The crop cultivation rack (8) is arranged as a multi-layer structure, and a plurality of root box racks (7) are arranged in parallel in each layer of the crop cultivation rack (8); partitions (6) are also arranged on the top layer of the crop cultivation rack (8) and between each layer structure, and a nozzle (62) is arranged in the middle of the partition (6) for spraying water and nutrients to the crops below, and a plurality of fill lights (61) are evenly arranged in the length direction of the partition (6) for providing light, and the upper surface of the partition (6) is arranged to be convex on all sides and concave in the middle, and the upper surface of the partition (6) is used to collect water and nutrients sprayed by the upper layer.

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