A screening system and method for directed breeding of plants

Abstract

The present application relates to a screening system and method for plant directional breeding, comprising: a collection unit configured to acquire images of a plant to be tested, and a central controller comprising a gene database storing gene data associated with phenotype changes of the plant to be tested, the central controller being configured to generate phenotype data of the plant to be tested related to a development time node according to the images acquired by the collection unit, and divide the phenotype data into at least one data set based on a development stage of the plant to be tested, the central controller setting a keyword label of an associated phenotype change for the data set corresponding to the development stage, and generating a recommended gene set corresponding to the keyword label through the gene database, wherein the recommended gene set is a set of genes associated with changes in the development time node of the plant to be tested.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of plant breeding technology, to plant cultivation systems, and more particularly to a screening system for directional plant cultivation. Background Technology

[0002] Heredity and variation are the foundation of species evolution. Plants can produce mutants under both natural and artificially induced conditions, and these mutants play a crucial role in genetic research. Currently, mutant breeding is an important method in crop breeding. The effects of mutants are mainly reflected in increasing yield, enhancing resistance, improving production efficiency, and improving crop quality. Existing technologies often obtain mutants by artificially generating random mutations throughout the genome through physical and chemical methods (such as screening, radiation mutagenesis, and EMS mutagenesis). For example, the invention with announcement number CN107950388B provides a method for generating maize mutants by EMS mutagenesis, including the following steps: S1, pollen collection: bag the male ears of maize in the early stage of pollen shedding and collect maize pollen; select maize single plants with good growth during the growth period and bag the female ears to obtain maize plants to be pollinated; S2, pollen mutagenesis treatment: prepare EMS-paraffin oil solution, remove the anthers from the pollen collected in S1 and add it to the EMS-paraffin oil solution, and carry out mutagenesis according to the following steps: (1) place the pollen 30cm directly below a 15W ultraviolet lamp for 3 hours. 0-60s, (2) Stir in the dark for 20-30min, (3) Place the pollen 30cm directly below a 15W UV lamp and irradiate for 15-30s, (4) Stir in the dark for 15-20min to obtain the mutagenic pollen solution; S3, artificial pollination: 30-60min before artificial pollination, apply EMS-paraffin oil solution to the silks of the female ear of the corn plant to be pollinated to obtain the mutagenic silks, and then carry out artificial pollination. During artificial pollination, brush the mutagenic pollen solution of S2 evenly onto the mutagenic silks, bag it, and manage it normally in the field until the corn is harvested to obtain the corn mutant.

[0003] The process of screening for novel phenotypic mutants is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Mutated plants are typically grown in ecological gardens, breeding rooms, or greenhouses. Researchers need to observe, record, analyze, and screen the phenotypes of these plants frequently and over a long period during their growth and development. Plants identified as potential mutants then undergo further identification to determine their authenticity. Molecular biology techniques are then used for gene localization, gene cloning, gene-related regulatory expression studies, and gene function studies. The entire research process is extremely time-consuming, and the final genes and related findings may have already been published, rendering the researchers' efforts futile.

[0004] Furthermore, during plant growth, especially in crops, researchers typically focus on mutant traits such as the presence or absence of lesions, plant height, leaf size, and the size and morphology of plant organs. They pay less attention to specific time points in plant growth and development, such as the timing of seed emergence, the first leaf growth, and the first tiller formation. Studying the differences at various time points in plant growth and development is of great significance. Specifically, obtaining the differences at various time points throughout the entire growth and development cycle of mutant plants is crucial for screening genes associated with different developmental stages. This research can provide additional important genes beyond those conventionally studied for crop yield and resistance, offering more resources for existing crop gene research and expanding the scope of current crop gene and gene function research.

[0005] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this invention, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that the present invention does not possess the features of these prior art. On the contrary, the present invention already possesses all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Thanks to the development of second- and third-generation sequencing technologies, gene identification and gene function research in plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, wheat, and cotton have been continuously advancing. The functional genes of rice, a major crop, have been extensively studied and publicly published. Currently, the process of functional gene research in crops includes: constructing a mutant library, screening and identifying mutant plants in the library, screening the entire genome of mutant plants to obtain mutation sites, and then verifying the mutant genes. Monitoring the entire developmental cycle of plants after mutation treatment requires researchers to observe and record data in the experimental area at short intervals, or even daily. This process consumes a significant amount of time and manpower, and the gene and gene function results obtained through long-term research may already be publicly available.

[0007] Furthermore, existing research on mutant traits primarily focuses on aspects such as the presence or absence of lesions, plant height, leaf size, and the size and morphology of plant organs. Correspondingly, it mainly studies genes related to mutations in the aforementioned traits. However, less attention has been paid to the differences in developmental time points throughout the entire growth and development cycle of crops. In this invention, developmental time points are defined as the critical time points in the entire growth and development cycle of a plant when it transitions from one growth stage to the next. For example, for grasses, developmental time points include at least: the time when the seed radicle tip breaks through the seed coat and shows white color, the time when the first leaf appears, the time when the first tiller appears, the time when the first ear emerges from the leaf sheath, the time when the fruit matures, and the time when the plant dies. Obtaining the differences at various time points throughout the entire growth and development cycle of mutant plants is of great research significance for screening genes associated with different developmental stages of plants. For example, the time of seed emergence varies among a batch of mutant seeds; some seeds germinate earlier after mutation, while others germinate later. This trait can provide researchers with research directions for genes related to seed germination. Similarly, the time of first tiller formation varies among the same batch of mutant plants; some plants develop tillers earlier, while others develop tillers later. This trait can provide researchers with research directions for genes related to tillering or branching. Such gene research related to traits is easily overlooked. For researchers, observing, recording, and analyzing the differences in developmental time points throughout the entire growth and development cycle of crops requires a significant investment of time. During the observation period, some important trait differences may be missed, ultimately leading to unsatisfactory experimental results.

[0008] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a screening system and method for targeted plant cultivation. This system can completely record the developmental time points throughout the entire growth cycle of a plant, and generate recommended levels for related genes by analyzing the differences in developmental time points. It provides other important genes beyond those conventionally studied for crop yield, resistance, and other related genes, thus providing more resources for existing crop gene research and expanding the research directions of existing crop genes and gene functions.

[0009] This invention provides a screening system for directional plant cultivation, comprising:

[0010] The acquisition unit is configured to acquire images of the plant under test.

[0011] And a central controller, which includes a gene database storing gene data associated with phenotypic changes in the tested plants.

[0012] The central controller is configured as follows:

[0013] Based on the images acquired by the acquisition unit, phenotypic data of the plant under test related to developmental time points are generated, and the phenotypic data is divided into at least one data set based on the developmental stage of the plant under test.

[0014] The central controller assigns keyword tags associated with phenotypic changes to the dataset corresponding to the developmental stage, and generates a recommended gene set corresponding to the keyword tags through the gene database, wherein...

[0015] The recommended gene set is a set of genes that are associated with changes in the developmental time points of the plant under test.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0017] The central controller acquires phenotypic data from various developmental stages of the plant by collecting images from the acquisition unit. It then divides the phenotypic data related to developmental time into one or more datasets based on the plant's developmental stage. Furthermore, the central controller sets keyword tags associated with phenotypic changes for datasets corresponding to different developmental stages, and retrieves genes associated with these keywords from a gene database to generate a corresponding recommended gene set. Compared to traditional functional gene research processes (constructing a mutant library, screening and identifying mutant plants in the library, screening the entire genome of mutant plants to obtain mutation sites, and then verifying the mutant genes), this screening system provides researchers with research directions through automated monitoring and analysis of the generated recommended gene sets. This avoids researchers wasting time on blind experiments. The screening system also overcomes the problem of traditional methods relying on manual recording and observation, which often overlooks or misses important phenotypic information, leading to incomplete or unsatisfactory experimental results.

[0018] Furthermore, this invention generates a recommended gene set based on phenotypic changes at developmental time points during plant growth, filling a gap in traditional research on genes related to developmental time points. Studying plant developmental time points is of great significance. For example, if a mutant plant has an earlier heading time and a delayed death time, it indicates that the reproductive stage of the mutant plant accounts for an increased proportion of its entire life cycle. The extended reproductive stage allows the plant ample time to produce offspring, thus resulting in more offspring. For some disadvantaged plants, studying related genes can help ensure their long-term survival. Therefore, this embodiment provides a broader research direction for plant gene research.

[0019] Preferably, the central controller comprises:

[0020] A pre-stored standard image library is provided, which includes at least standard images of the plant under test at each developmental time point.

[0021] The central controller is configured as follows:

[0022] Based on the match between the features of the image acquired by the acquisition unit in the first acquisition mode and the standard image of the corresponding developmental stage, the acquisition unit is controlled to acquire images in the second acquisition mode.

[0023] in,

[0024] The first acquisition mode is grayscale image acquisition mode, and the second acquisition mode is color image acquisition mode.

[0025] Preferably, the central controller is configured as follows:

[0026] When the image of the plant under test acquired using the second acquisition mode matches the features of the standard image of the plant under test at the corresponding developmental node, the date of the corresponding developmental time node of the plant under test is determined, wherein...

[0027] The developmental time point is the critical time point in the entire growth and development cycle of the plant under test, when it enters the next growth stage from one growth stage.

[0028] Preferably, the central controller is configured with a developmental standard time range to determine whether the developmental time point of the plant under test is advanced or delayed, wherein,

[0029] The developmental standard time range refers to the range of normal developmental time lengths experienced between the sowing date of wild-type plants and the developmental time nodes of each growth stage.

[0030] Preferably, the central controller includes a computing unit configured to calculate the length of time between the date on which the developmental time point of the plant under test is confirmed and the date of sowing.

[0031] Preferably, when the time between the confirmed developmental time point of the plant under test and the sowing date is lower than the lower limit of the developmental standard time range, the central controller determines that the developmental time point is advanced.

[0032] When the time between the confirmed developmental time point of the plant under test and the sowing date exceeds the upper limit of the standard developmental time range, the central controller determines that the developmental time point is delayed.

[0033] Preferably, the central controller divides the recommended gene set into a promoting set and a repressive set, wherein,

[0034] The promoting set is the set of genes corresponding to the developmental stage of the plant under test that advances the developmental time point of the plant under test.

[0035] The inhibition set is the set of genes corresponding to the developmental stage of the plant under test that delays the developmental time point of the plant under test.

[0036] Preferably, the central controller is configured as follows:

[0037] When it is determined that the developmental time point of the plant under test is advanced, the genes related to the advanced developmental time point of the plant are classified into the promoting set;

[0038] When it is determined that the developmental time point of the plant under test is delayed, the genes related to the developmental time point delay of the plant are classified into the inhibition set.

[0039] This invention also provides a screening method for directional plant cultivation, characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0040] Acquire images of the plant to be tested;

[0041] Obtain phenotypic data of the plant under test related to developmental time points;

[0042] The phenotypic data are divided into at least one data set based on the developmental stage of the plant under test;

[0043] Set keyword tags for the associated phenotypic changes in the dataset;

[0044] A set of recommended genes corresponding to the keyword tags is generated using a gene database.

[0045] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0046] The acquisition unit is configured with a first acquisition mode and a second acquisition mode. Throughout the plant's growth process, images are acquired using the first acquisition mode (grayscale image or low resolution) and initially screened. The features of the real-time acquired images are compared with standard images in a pre-stored standard image library. Plants corresponding to grayscale images that match the features of the standard images are selected. The central controller then controls the acquisition unit to perform a second acquisition and analysis of the corresponding plants in the selected images using the second acquisition mode (color image or high resolution) to confirm the plant's growth stage. Low-resolution or grayscale images require less memory than high-resolution or color images, and the image processing unit takes less time to analyze them. Therefore, this invention first selects target plants using images acquired in the first acquisition mode, and then performs a second acquisition of images of the selected target plants using the second acquisition mode. This reduces the memory space occupied by the images and the image processing time, thereby improving work efficiency, reducing data transmission failures or delays, and ensuring the accuracy of the image judgment results. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 This is a simplified schematic diagram of the module connection relationship of a screening system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] List of reference numerals

[0049] 100: Acquisition unit; 200: Central controller; 210: Image processing unit; 220: Computation unit; 230: Gene database; 300: Plant to be tested. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The following is a detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this application: phenotype refers to the observable structural and functional characteristics of an organism, such as morphological, color, and developmental timing features. Gene data associated with phenotypic changes are gene data that have a causal or covariant relationship with the change in plant phenotype, such as gene data causing phenotypic changes such as delayed seed germination, earlier tillering, and earlier flowering. Wild-type plants and mutant plants are relative terms; in this study, individuals obtained from nature (i.e., individuals not artificially induced) are defined as wild-type. Phenotypic data related to developmental time points are phenotypic data reflecting changes in the plant's developmental time points, such as an earlier seed germination time point, by 5 days. In this application, earlier or later developmental time points refer to earlier or later development on a timeline. Gene databases store various data such as gene and genome sequences, structures, variations, and functions.

[0051] Example 1

[0052] This embodiment uses barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) as an example to illustrate the working process of a screening system for targeted plant cultivation. Figure 1 As shown, the screening system includes: an acquisition unit 100 configured to acquire images of a plant 300 to be tested. Preferably, the acquisition unit 100 is used to periodically acquire images of seeds or plants. Preferably, the acquisition unit 100 is an image capturing device. According to a preferred embodiment, the acquisition unit 100 is provided with a first acquisition mode and a second acquisition mode. Preferably, the first acquisition mode is for the acquisition unit 100 to acquire grayscale images of the plant 300 to be tested. Preferably, the second acquisition mode is for the acquisition unit 100 to acquire color images of the plant 300 to be tested.

[0053] Preferably, the first acquisition mode is that the acquisition unit 100 acquires an image of the plant 300 under test at a first resolution. Preferably, the second acquisition mode is that the acquisition unit 100 acquires an image of the plant 300 under test at a second resolution. Preferably, the second resolution is higher than the first resolution. Specifically, the first resolution can be 720×480. Specifically, the second resolution can be 3840x2160.

[0054] The screening system monitors barnyard grass seeds that have undergone mutation treatment in the experimental area. Mutation treatments can include ultraviolet-induced mutagenesis, EMS soaking, etc. The screening system begins operation from the date of sowing. Researchers can set the operating time of the screening system. Preferably, the operating time is set to collect images of barnyard grass in the experimental area at a first interval. Specifically, the first interval can be one week, 5 days, 4 days, 3 days, 2 days, 1 day, or 0 days. The setting of the first interval depends on the growth status of the barnyard grass. Preferably, the first interval is set to 0 days, i.e., images of barnyard grass are collected daily.

[0055] During the germination period of barnyard grass, the acquisition unit 100 is configured to acquire grayscale images of barnyard grass seeds in the test area daily according to a first acquisition mode. The acquisition unit 100 numbers the acquired grayscale images and sends the numbered grayscale images to the central controller 200. Preferably, the acquisition unit 100 is communicatively connected to the central controller 200. Specifically, the acquisition unit 100 is WLAN connected to the central controller 200. Preferably, the central controller 200 can be a computer.

[0056] Preferably, the central controller 200 is provided with an image processing unit 210. Preferably, the image processing unit 210 is used to extract feature information of the image. The image processing unit 210 can extract feature information of the image based on information such as pixel distribution, brightness, and color. Preferably, the central controller 200 is provided with a pre-stored standard image library. Preferably, the pre-stored standard image library includes at least standard images of the plant 300 under test at each developmental time point. Preferably, the pre-stored standard image library includes standard images of the complete growth cycle of barnyard grass. Preferably, the pre-stored standard image library includes at least standard images of seeds or plants of barnyard grass at each developmental time point. Specifically, the pre-stored standard image library includes images of barnyard grass seeds at initial sowing, images of barnyard grass seeds showing white sprouts, images of barnyard grass seedlings with the first leaf emerging, images of barnyard grass plants with the first tiller emerging, images of barnyard grass plants with the first ear emerging from the leaf sheath, images of barnyard grass plants with mature fruits, and images of dead barnyard grass plants. Among them, the standard for whitening is when the radicle tip just breaks through the seed coat; the standard for tillering is when the first tiller's leaf extends 1-1.5 cm out of the leaf sheath; the standard for heading is when the tip of the young spike emerges from the leaf sheath; the standard for fruit ripening is when the fruit turns golden yellow; and the standard for plant death is when the entire above-ground part of the plant turns yellow.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, the central controller 200 is configured to: control the acquisition unit 100 to acquire images in a second acquisition mode based on the feature matching between the image acquired by the acquisition unit 100 in a first acquisition mode and the standard image of the corresponding developmental stage, wherein the first acquisition mode is a grayscale image acquisition mode and the second acquisition mode is a color image acquisition mode.

[0058] According to a preferred embodiment, when the image of the plant under test 300 acquired in the second acquisition mode matches the features of the standard image of the plant under test 300 at the corresponding developmental node, the date of the corresponding developmental time node of the plant under test 300 is determined, wherein the developmental time node is the critical time point in the entire growth and development cycle of the plant under test 300 from one growth stage to the next.

[0059] Preferably, the image processing unit 210 extracts the morphological features of the target to be compared from the grayscale image acquired in the first acquisition mode. The central controller 200 compares the morphological features of the acquired numbered image with the morphological features of the initially sown barnyard grass seed images in the pre-stored standard image library to determine whether the barnyard grass seeds corresponding to the numbered grayscale images have undergone morphological changes. If the determination result is that the barnyard grass seeds have undergone morphological changes, the central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to acquire the color image of the corresponding numbered barnyard grass that has undergone morphological changes in the second acquisition mode and re-numbers the acquired color image. The acquisition unit 100 sends the re-numbered color image to the central controller 200, and the image processing unit 210 acquires the morphological and color features of the target to be compared from the re-numbered color image. The central controller 200 compares the morphological and color features of the re-numbered color image with the morphological and color features of the standard images in the pre-stored standard image library to confirm the current growth stage of the barnyard grass. For example, the acquisition unit 100 acquires grayscale images of barnyard grass seeds at 10 locations, numbers them 1 to 10, and sends them to the image processing unit 210. The image processing unit 210 extracts the morphological features of the grayscale images. The central controller 200 compares the morphological features of the images numbered 1 to 10 with the morphological features of the initial sown barnyard grass seed images in the pre-stored standard image library. The central controller 200 determines that the grayscale images numbered 1 to 5 have not undergone morphological changes, while the grayscale images numbered 6 to 10 have undergone morphological changes. The central controller 200 then controls the acquisition unit 100 to acquire the color images of the barnyard grass corresponding to numbers 6 to 10 and performs secondary numbering. For example, the secondary numbering of the image numbered 6 is 6-1, the secondary numbering of the image numbered 7 is 7-1, and the secondary numbering of the image numbered 10 is 10-1. The acquisition unit 100 sends the second-numbered color images to the image processing unit 210 for feature extraction, and then compares them with the morphological and color features of the standard images in the pre-stored standard image library. The comparison results show that the color images of barnyard grass numbered 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, 9-1, and 10-1 match the morphological and color features of the images of barnyard grass seeds showing white. Therefore, the central controller 200 determines that the seeds of barnyard grass numbered 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, 9-1, and 10-1 have shown white and records the corresponding dates.

[0060] Plants have long growth cycles. For plants requiring long-term monitoring, repeatedly acquiring high-resolution or color images would consume a large amount of storage space. Furthermore, during image transmission between the acquisition unit 100 and the central controller 200, the large image memory size can lead to issues such as lag, delayed uploads, and upload interruptions. Additionally, feature extraction by the image processing unit 210 also consumes a significant amount of time. Consequently, the screening system generates a massive amount of data during operation. The advantage of setting a first acquisition mode and a second acquisition mode for the acquisition unit 100 in this embodiment is that, during plant growth, images are acquired using the first acquisition mode (grayscale image or low resolution) for initial screening. The features of the real-time acquired images are compared with standard images in a pre-stored standard image library to identify plants whose grayscale images match the features of the standard images. The central controller 200 then controls the acquisition unit 100 to perform a second acquisition and analysis of the corresponding plants in the selected images using the second acquisition mode (color image or high resolution) to confirm the plant's growth stage. Low-resolution or grayscale images require less memory than high-resolution or color images, and the image processing unit 210 takes less time to analyze low-resolution or grayscale images. Therefore, in this embodiment, the target plants are first screened out by images acquired in the first acquisition mode, and then the selected target plants are screened out again by the second acquisition mode, so as to reduce the memory space occupied by the images and reduce the image processing time, thereby improving work efficiency, reducing data transmission failures or delays, and ensuring the accuracy of image judgment results.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment, the central controller 200 further includes a calculation unit 220. Preferably, the calculation unit 220 is used to calculate the time length between the date on which the developmental time node of the plant 300 is confirmed and the date of sowing. Preferably, the calculation unit 220 can also calculate the time length between the date on which the plant is confirmed to have reached a developmental time node and the date of the previous developmental time node. Preferably, the central controller 200 stores the sowing dates. For example, if the sowing date is February 26, 2020, and the seed emergence date of barnyard grass is February 27, 2020, the calculation unit 220 calculates that the seed emergence time of barnyard grass numbered 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, 9-1, and 10-1 is 1 day.

[0062] According to a preferred embodiment, the central controller 200 is configured with a developmental standard time range to determine whether each developmental time node of the barnyard grass is ahead of or behind schedule. In this embodiment, the developmental standard time range is defined as the range of normal developmental time lengths between the sowing date and the developmental time nodes of each growth stage for wild-type plants. When the time length between the confirmed developmental time node date of the tested plant 300 and the sowing date is lower than the lower limit of the developmental standard time range, the central controller 200 determines that the developmental time node is ahead of schedule; when the time length between the confirmed developmental time node date of the tested plant 300 and the sowing date exceeds the upper limit of the developmental standard time range, the central controller 200 determines that the developmental time node is behind schedule.

[0063] Preferably, the standard development time range for barnyard grass seeds to sprout white is 2-3 days; the standard development time range for the emergence of the first leaf is 7-10 days; the standard development time range for the emergence of the first tiller is 50-55 days; the standard development time range for the emergence of the first ear of barnyard grass from the leaf sheath is 80-85 days; the standard development time range for fruit ripening is 110-115 days; and the standard development time range for plant death is 170-180 days. The images numbered 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, 9-1, and 10-1 correspond to barnyard grass seeds that have sprouted white for 1 day, which is lower than the lower limit of the standard development time range for seed sprouting white. Therefore, the central controller 200 determines that the barnyard grass seeds corresponding to images numbered 6-1, 7-1, 8-1, 9-1, and 10-1 have germinated prematurely.

[0064] The screening system repeats the above process and obtains the seed emergence time of barnyard grass corresponding to images numbered 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, and 5-1, which are 6 days, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, and 7 days, respectively. Among them, the seed emergence time of barnyard grass corresponding to images numbered 2-1 and 3-1 is within the standard development time range for barnyard grass seed emergence, while the seed emergence time of barnyard grass corresponding to images numbered 1-1, 4-1, and 5-1 exceeds the upper limit of the standard development time range for barnyard grass seed emergence. The central controller 200 determines that the barnyard grass seeds corresponding to images numbered 1-1, 4-1, and 5-1 have delayed germination.

[0065] Preferably, the central controller 200 generates phenotypic data of the plant under test 300 related to developmental time points from the images acquired by the acquisition unit 100, dividing it into at least one dataset based on the developmental stage of the plant under test 300. Preferably, the central controller 200 sets associated keyword tags for phenotypic changes for the datasets corresponding to the developmental stages of the plant under test 300. Specifically, the phenotypic data can be divided into germination dataset, leaf development dataset, tillering dataset, heading dataset, fruit ripening dataset, and life cycle dataset.

[0066] According to a preferred embodiment, the central controller 200 includes a gene database 230. The gene database 230 stores gene data associated with phenotypic changes in the plant 300 under test. For example, if the seed germination time of the mutant barnyard grass is longer or shorter than that of the wild-type barnyard grass, the central controller 200 will include the phenotypic data of the barnyard grass germination time in a dataset, generate a keyword tag: germination dataset, and retrieve genes associated with the germination trait from the gene database 230 to generate a corresponding recommended gene set. The recommended gene set is a set of genes associated with changes in the developmental timeline of the plant 300 under test. If the germination timeline is advanced or delayed, the recommended gene set will include a set of genes associated with changes in germination time.

[0067] Preferably, the central controller 200 classifies the recommended gene set into a promoting set and a suppressing set. The promoting set is the set of genes corresponding to the developmental stages of the test plant 300 that advance each developmental time point. The suppressing set is the set of genes corresponding to the developmental stages of the test plant 300 that delay each developmental time point. According to a preferred embodiment, the central controller 200 is configured to: when it is determined that the developmental time point of the test plant 300 is advanced, assign the genes related to the advanced developmental time point to the promoting set; when it is determined that the developmental time point of the test plant 300 is delayed, assign the genes related to the delayed developmental time point to the suppressing set.

[0068] The above describes a change in the germination traits of barnyard grass. Therefore, the central controller 200 generates a recommended gene set, which includes {SD6, ICE2, OsbHLH116, PLA3}. Further, the recommended gene set is divided into a promoting set {SD6 OsbHLH116} and a suppressing set {PLA3 ICE2}.

[0069] The screening system continues to operate. For example, after the barnyard grass has grown for a period of time, the acquisition unit 100 acquires grayscale images of plants at 10 locations, numbering them 1 to 10, and sends them to the image processing unit 210. The image processing unit 210 extracts the morphological features of the grayscale images of the plants. Preferably, the image processing unit 210 extracts image features based on the distribution characteristics of different parts of the plant. For example, the image processing unit 210 extracts the features of leaves near the base of the plant; the image processing unit 210 extracts the features of tillers near the base of the plant; and the image processing unit 210 extracts the features of inflorescences at the top of the main stem of the plant. The central controller 200 compares the morphological features of images numbered 1 to 10 with the morphological features of standard images in a pre-stored standard image library. The morphological features of grayscale images numbered 1 to 5 match the morphological features of the first tillering barnyard grass plant image in the pre-stored standard image library. The morphological features of grayscale images numbered 6 to 8 do not match the morphological features of the standard images in the pre-stored standard image library. However, the morphological features of grayscale images numbered 9 and 10 match the morphological features of the first ear emerging from the leaf sheath image in the pre-stored standard image library. The central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to acquire color images of the barnyard grass plants corresponding to images numbered 1 to 5 and 9 to 10 and assigns them secondary numbers. For example, the secondary numbering of image number 1 is 1-1, the secondary numbering of image number 2 is 2-1, and so on, with the secondary numbering of image number 10 being 10-1. The acquisition unit 100 sends the second-numbered color images to the image processing unit 210 for feature extraction, and then compares them with the morphological and color features of the standard images in the pre-stored standard image library. The comparison results show that the color images of barnyard grass numbered 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, and 5-1 match the morphological and color features of the first tillering barnyard grass plant image in the pre-stored standard image library. The images numbered 9-1 and 1... The color image of barnyard grass numbered 0-1 matches the morphological characteristics of the first ear of barnyard grass emerging from the leaf sheath in the pre-stored standard image library. Therefore, the central controller 200 determines that the first tiller of barnyard grass numbered 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, and 5-1 has occurred, and the first ear of barnyard grass numbered 9-1 and 10-1 has emerged from the leaf sheath. At the same time, the corresponding dates are recorded, for example, the date is April 28, 2020. The calculation unit 220 calculates that the time length for the first tiller of barnyard grass numbered 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, and 5-1 to occur is 62 days, and the calculation unit 220 calculates that the time length for the first ear of barnyard grass numbered 9-1 and 10-1 to emerge from the leaf sheath is 62 days. If the time it takes for the first tiller of barnyard grass to occur exceeds the upper limit of the corresponding development standard time range by 55 days, the central controller 200 determines that the tillering time of barnyard grass is delayed; if the time it takes for the first ear of barnyard grass to emerge from the leaf sheath is lower than the lower limit of its development standard time range by 80 days, the central controller 200 determines that the ear emergence time of barnyard grass is advanced.

[0070] The tillering time of the mutant-treated barnyard grass exceeds that of the wild-type barnyard grass. The central controller 200, after including the phenotypic data on tillering time in the dataset, generates a keyword tag: "tillering dataset." It then retrieves genes associated with the tillering trait from the gene database 230, generating a corresponding recommended gene set. Specifically, the recommended tillering gene set is a repression set, which is {D10 HTD1 OsTB1 TAD1}.

[0071] The heading time of the mutant-treated barnyard grass is shorter than that of the wild-type. The central controller 200 includes the phenotypic data of heading time in the data set and generates a keyword tag: heading data set. It then retrieves genes associated with the heading trait from the gene database 230 to generate a corresponding recommended gene set. Specifically, the recommended gene set for heading is a promotion set, which is {Ehd1 Hd3a RFT1OsMADS14 OsMADS15}.

[0072] According to a preferred embodiment, the central controller 200 can remove a portion of genes based on the plant's growth stage to generate a more accurate set of recommended genes. For example, gene 1 is a gene related to plant tillering, but gene 1 is a gene related to tillering angle during the tillering stage, which does not match the situation in this embodiment where the transition period from seedling to tillering promotes tillering. Therefore, gene 1 is removed from the recommended gene set for tillering. Gene 2 is a gene related to heading, but gene 2 is a gene related to the number of headings during the mid-heading stage, which does not match the situation in this embodiment where the transition period from heading to heading promotes heading. Therefore, gene 2 is removed from the recommended gene set for heading.

[0073] The advantages of this embodiment are as follows: The central controller 200 acquires phenotypic data of each developmental node of the plant from the images obtained by the acquisition unit 100, and divides the phenotypic data related to developmental time into one or more datasets based on the plant's developmental stage. Furthermore, the central controller 200 sets keyword tags associated with phenotypic changes for the datasets corresponding to the plant's developmental stage, and then retrieves genes associated with the keywords through the gene database 230 to generate a corresponding recommended gene set. Compared with traditional research methods, the automated monitoring and analysis of the screening system in this embodiment saves researchers a significant amount of time. It also overcomes the problem of traditional methods relying on manual recording and observation, which may overlook or omit important phenotypic information, leading to incomplete or unsatisfactory experimental results. This embodiment generates a recommended gene set based on phenotypic changes at developmental time points during plant growth, filling the gap in traditional research on genes related to the developmental time points of mutants. Studying the developmental time points of plants is of great significance. For example, the earlier heading time and delayed death time of mutant plants indicates that the reproductive stage of the mutant plant accounts for an increased proportion of its entire life cycle. The extended reproductive stage allows the plant sufficient time to produce offspring, thus enabling it to leave behind more offspring. For some disadvantaged plants, studying the related genes can help ensure their long-term survival. Therefore, this example provides a broader research direction for plant gene research.

[0074] Furthermore, the number of genes related to each stage of plant growth is enormous. If the recommended gene set includes all genes related to the studied trait, researchers would need to spend a significant amount of time on verification and analysis. Moreover, during verification, it is possible that many genes are unrelated to the studied trait or have no significant impact, potentially wasting considerable time. The central controller 200 in this embodiment can remove some genes based on the plant's developmental stage. These removed genes include those that do not match the developmental stage or are irrelevant to the developmental time, thus providing researchers with a more concise recommended gene set. The central controller 200 also divides the recommended gene set into a promoting set that advances plant developmental milestones and an inhibiting set that delays plant developmental milestones, providing researchers with a clear research direction and a more detailed recommended gene set.

[0075] Example 2

[0076] This embodiment is a further improvement of embodiment 1, and repeated content will not be described again.

[0077] In this embodiment, the developmental time points of the plant 300 under test are divided into a first time point, a second time point, and a third time point. The first time point is the time of seed germination. The second time point is the time of the beginning of heading. The third time point is the time of plant death. The acquisition unit 100 is equipped with three acquisition modes, including: a first acquisition mode, configured to acquire only grayscale images; a second acquisition mode, configured to acquire grayscale images and then acquire color images of the plant 300 corresponding to images with specified numbers; and a third acquisition mode: acquiring only color images. According to a preferred embodiment, based on the change in the developmental time point of the plant 300 under test, the central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to adjust the acquisition mode.

[0078] After the barnyard grass seeds are sown in the experimental area, the central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to start the first acquisition mode. Preferably, when seed germination is detected, the first time point is reached, and the central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to start the second acquisition mode. Preferably, when the plant begins to produce ears of grain, the second time point is reached, and the central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to start the third acquisition mode. For example, after barnyard grass seeds are sown in the experimental area, the acquisition unit 100 acquires grayscale images of barnyard grass from the day of sowing and sends them to the image processing unit 210 of the central controller 200 for analysis. When the analysis result indicates that seeds have germinated, the central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to start the second acquisition mode. The acquisition unit 100 first acquires grayscale images of barnyard grass and sends them to the image processing unit 210 of the central controller 200 for analysis. The acquired grayscale images can be used to continue analyzing the seed germination status. When an image of a suspected plant starting to head is detected in the grayscale image, the central controller 200 acquires color images of the plant corresponding to the suspected plant starting to head. When it is confirmed that the plant has started to head and all seeds have been detected to have germinated, the central controller 200 controls the acquisition unit 100 to start the third acquisition mode, acquiring color images from the time the plant starts to head until the plant dies.

[0079] Plants exhibit different morphological characteristics at different developmental stages. By comparing images of different developmental stages acquired by the acquisition unit 100 with standard images, the central controller 200 can determine the developmental stage of the plant. Since the morphological characteristics of plants at some developmental stages are easily identifiable while those at others are not, the acquisition unit 100 in this embodiment uses three acquisition modes to acquire plant images. Compared to traditional image acquisition modes, the advantages of this embodiment are: before seed germination is detected, grayscale images of the plant are acquired to determine whether the seed has germinated. The morphological characteristics of seed germination are easily identifiable, so grayscale image analysis can be used to determine whether the seed has germinated; when seed germination is detected, the acquisition unit 100 activates a second acquisition mode. This is because some features after seed germination cannot be determined solely by grayscale images; for example, the spike is encased in a leaf sheath, but… When only a small portion of the plant is exposed, grayscale image analysis cannot accurately determine whether it has entered the heading stage. This is because when new leaves emerge, they are curled inwards, and when only the tip of a new leaf is exposed, its shape is very similar to the characteristics of initial heading. Therefore, color images need to be acquired to confirm whether the plant has entered the heading stage. In the second acquisition mode, grayscale images can still be used to determine whether seeds have germinated, and color images can be acquired for plants suspected of heading to further confirm the plant's developmental stage. When it is confirmed that the plant has started heading and all seeds have been detected to have germinated, the acquisition unit 100 starts the third acquisition mode, which only acquires color images for analysis. This is because all seeds have germinated, and even if grayscale images are acquired, only the result of suspected heading can be obtained. Subsequent plant characteristics need to be determined by color, so color images are directly acquired to determine characteristics such as heading and death, until all plants are detected to be dead, at which point the acquisition unit 100 stops acquiring images. This embodiment selects different acquisition modes according to the developmental stages of the plant. This can reduce the content space occupied by the image while ensuring the accuracy of the judgment results, overcoming the problem of using only grayscale images or only color images in traditional acquisition modes.

[0080] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this invention, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this invention and its protection. Those skilled in the art should understand that this specification and its accompanying drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. This specification contains multiple inventive concepts; terms such as "preferredly," "according to a preferred embodiment," or "optionally" indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept. The applicant reserves the right to file divisional applications based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, features introduced by "preferredly" are merely optional and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. A screening system for directional plant cultivation, comprising: An acquisition unit (100) equipped with a first acquisition mode and a second acquisition mode is configured to acquire images of the plant to be tested (300). And a central controller (200) comprising a gene database (230) storing gene data associated with phenotypic changes in the plant under test (300) and a pre-stored standard image library including standard images of the plant under test (300) at various developmental time points. Its features are, The central controller (200) is configured to: By analyzing the differences in developmental time points, recommendation levels for relevant genes are generated. Based on the images acquired by the acquisition unit (100), phenotypic data of the plant under test (300) related to developmental time points are generated, and the phenotypic data are divided into at least one data set based on the developmental stage of the plant under test (300). Based on the data set corresponding to the developmental stage, the central controller (200) sets keyword tags associated with phenotypic changes and generates a recommended gene set corresponding to the keyword tags through the gene database (230), wherein the recommended gene set is a set of genes associated with the developmental time node changes of the plant under test (300). Based on the fact that the image acquired by the acquisition unit (100) in the first acquisition mode matches the features of the standard image of the corresponding developmental stage, the acquisition unit (100) is controlled to acquire the image in the second acquisition mode. The first acquisition mode is a grayscale image acquisition mode, and the second acquisition mode is a color image acquisition mode. When the image of the plant under test (300) acquired in the second acquisition mode matches the features of the standard image of the plant under test (300) at the corresponding developmental stage, the date of the corresponding developmental time node of the plant under test (300) is determined. The developmental time node is the critical time point in the entire growth and development cycle of the plant under test (300) from one growth stage to the next.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, The central controller (200) is configured with a standard developmental time range to determine whether the developmental time point of the plant under test (300) is ahead of or behind schedule. The developmental standard time range refers to the range of normal developmental time lengths experienced between the sowing date of wild-type plants and the developmental time nodes of each growth stage.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, The central controller (200) includes a computing unit (220) configured to calculate the length of time between the date on which the developmental time point of the plant under test (300) is confirmed and the date of sowing.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, When the time between the confirmed development time point of the plant under test (300) and the sowing date is lower than the lower limit of the development standard time range, the central controller (200) determines that the development time point is advanced. When the time between the confirmed development time point of the plant under test (300) and the sowing date exceeds the upper limit of the development standard time range, the central controller (200) determines that the development time point is delayed.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, The central controller (200) divides the recommended gene set into a promoting set and a repressive set, wherein, The promoting set is the set of genes corresponding to the developmental stage of the plant under test (300) that advances the developmental time point of the plant under test (300). The inhibition set is a set of genes corresponding to the developmental stage of the plant under test (300) that delays the developmental time point of the plant under test (300).

6. The system of claim 5, wherein, The central controller (200) is configured to: When it is determined that the developmental time point of the plant under test (300) is advanced, the genes related to the advanced developmental time point of the plant are assigned to the promoting set; When it is determined that the developmental time point of the plant under test (300) is delayed, the genes related to the developmental time point delay of the plant are classified into the inhibition set.

7. The system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The developmental time points include at least the time when the seed shows white sprouts, the time when the first leaf appears, the time when the first tiller appears, the time when the first spike emerges from the leaf sheath, the time when the fruit matures, and the time when the plant dies.

8. A method of using the screening system for directed breeding of plants according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Acquire an image of the plant to be tested (300); Obtain phenotypic data of the plant under test (300) related to developmental time points; The phenotypic data are divided into at least one data set based on the developmental stage of the plant under test (300); Set keyword tags for the associated phenotypic changes in the dataset; A set of recommended genes corresponding to the keyword tags is generated using a gene database (230).

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