Sample transfer and growth device for rice in-situ dynamic CT observation

Abstract

The utility model discloses a sample transfer and growth device for rice in-situ dynamic CT (Computed Tomography) observation, which comprises a mounting base and a three-layer nested cylinder, the mounting base is used as a basic support platform, the surface of the mounting base is provided with a positioning annular mounting groove and a water guide system, an inner culture cylinder is provided with a vent hole and a light shield interface, and the bottom of the inner culture cylinder is provided with replaceable filter cloth. According to the design of small CT equipment, the middle-layer adaptive cylinder is in precise butt joint with the inner layer through a positioning convex strip and is adaptive to medium CT scanning, the outer-layer expansion cylinder is provided with a portable handle, the large industrial CT requirement is met, the three layers of cylinder bodies are rapidly assembled and separated through a buckle type structure, a bottom water guide opening is matched with a base water guide groove, and a drainage system is formed. The device solves the problem that a traditional method cannot give consideration to multi-scale CT observation and root system in-situ growth, one-time planting and whole-course observation are achieved through modular design, and a technical platform is provided for crop root system research.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of plant phenotyping analysis, in particular to a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice. Background Art

[0002] The roots of crops such as rice are key organs for plants to perceive environmental signals and obtain nutrients. Their spatiotemporal dynamic structural characteristics directly affect crop yield formation and stress resistance. In recent years, X-ray computed tomography technology has become a core means of studying the three-dimensional structure of the root system due to its non-destructive imaging advantages. This technology can achieve in situ three-dimensional visualization observation of the soil-root system while maintaining its natural growth state, providing important technical support for analyzing the dynamic changes in root system architecture.

[0003] Currently, in the dynamic observation of crops throughout their entire growth period, high-resolution micro-CT (micro-CT) or X-ray microscopes are required for micron-level fine imaging in the seed and seedling stages. However, their limited scanning field of view makes it difficult to accommodate mature plants. Industrial CT, which is suitable for large-size samples, has the advantage of a wide field of view, but cannot meet the high-resolution requirements of the early developmental stage. This contradiction makes it difficult for existing technologies to achieve continuous observation of the same plant from germination to maturity throughout the entire cycle. The core difficulty lies in the lack of a sample carrying and transfer device that is compatible with CT equipment of different specifications and can ensure the integrity of the in situ growth of the root system. Therefore, the development of a new cross-scale adaptive root observation system is of great scientific significance for the in situ tracking of the root growth dynamics and the study of its structure and function of crops such as rice. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to address the deficiencies in the above-mentioned technologies and to propose a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice, aiming to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] The utility model provides a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice, comprising:

[0006] Mounting base: The mounting base is placed on a flat surface and provides a basic bearing surface for subsequent installation;

[0007] The inner culture cylinder is arranged on the mounting base. The inner culture cylinder is used to provide a space for the complete growth of the crop root system and meet the requirements of adapting to small observation equipment. The inner culture cylinder includes two arc-shaped plates, two clamping blocks are fixedly installed on the side walls at both ends of one arc-shaped plate, and two clamping slots are provided on the side walls at both ends of the other arc-shaped plate. The clamping blocks and the clamping slots are plugged into each other with interference fit. The inner walls of the two arc-shaped plates are provided with arc-shaped grooves. The two arc-shaped grooves are located at the same height on the two arc-shaped plates. A bottom plate is inserted into the arc-shaped groove, and a plurality of drainage holes are provided on the bottom plate.

[0008] The middle adapter tube is arranged on the mounting base and sleeved on the outer side of the inner culture tube. The middle adapter tube and the inner culture tube are detachably connected and meet the requirements of adapting to medium-sized observation equipment;

[0009] The outer expansion tube is arranged on the mounting base and is sleeved on the outside of the middle adapter tube. The outer expansion tube and the middle adapter tube are detachably connected and can adapt to large-scale observation equipment.

[0010] Preferably, three annular mounting grooves of small, medium and large are provided on the surface of the mounting base. The shapes and sizes of the three annular mounting grooves are respectively adapted to the inner culture cylinder, the middle adaptation cylinder and the outer expansion cylinder. The three annular mounting grooves are distributed in sequence with the center point of the mounting base as the origin, and a number of radial water guide grooves are provided on the surface of the mounting base.

[0011] Preferably, positioning ridges are fixedly installed on the outer walls opposite to the inner culture tube and the middle adapter tube, and positioning matching grooves are fixedly installed on the inner walls opposite to the middle adapter tube and the outer expansion tube, and the positioning ridges and the positioning matching grooves are engaged with each other.

[0012] Preferably, a carrying handle is fixedly mounted on the outer wall opposite to the outer expansion cylinder.

[0013] Preferably, the bottoms of the inner culture tube, the middle adapting tube and the outer expansion tube are all provided with a plurality of water guide ports, and the shapes and sizes of the plurality of water guide ports are adapted to the plurality of radial water guide grooves.

[0014] Preferably, the inner culture cylinder is made of polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate, the middle adapting cylinder is made of a lightweight material, the outer expansion cylinder is made of a composite material, and the mounting base is made of a corrosion-resistant material.

[0015] Preferably, a light shield is detachably mounted on the top of the inner culture cylinder.

[0016] Preferably, a plurality of ventilation holes are uniformly arrayed on the wall surface of the inner culture cylinder.

[0017] Compared with the existing technology, it has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] The present invention provides a sample transfer and growth device for in situ dynamic CT observation of rice. The device utilizes a three-layer structure consisting of an inner culture tube, a middle adapter tube, and an outer expansion tube. The inner culture tube ensures natural root growth, the middle adapter tube enables compatibility with medium-sized CT equipment, and the outer expansion tube accommodates large industrial CT equipment. This nested, individually removable design ensures that the root system is undisturbed during transfer while also meeting the full-scale observation requirements from micro-CT to large-scale CT. Furthermore, water guide grooves in the base module address the poor drainage problem of traditional containers. The coordination of outer wall positioning protrusions and inner wall limiting grooves ensures that each layer of container can be quickly and accurately assembled and separated. Device switching requires only a simple pull and pull operation, without affecting the internal root structure, enabling observation throughout the entire planting process. This modular design not only addresses issues such as sample transfer disturbance across devices, limited observation field of view, and difficulty controlling the growth environment, but also improves experimental efficiency and data comparability. This provides a high-resolution, highly consistent three-dimensional imaging platform for studying the dynamic development of rice root systems, which is of great significance to crop breeding and cultivation research. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structural connection relationship of a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice in the utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structural connection relationship of the inner culture cylinder of a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice in the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting base structure of a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice in the utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection relationship between the positioning ribs and the positioning matching grooves on the middle-layer adapting tube and the outer-layer expanding tube of a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice in the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 The utility model is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship between the light shield on the inner culture cylinder of a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice.

[0025] In the figure, 1. Mounting base; 2. Inner culture tube; 201. Arc plate; 202. Block; 203. Slot; 204. Arc groove; 205. Bottom plate; 206. Drain hole; 3. Middle adapter tube; 4. Outer expansion tube; 5. Annular mounting groove; 6. Water guide groove; 7. Positioning ridge; 8. Positioning matching groove; 9. Carrying handle; 10. Water outlet; 11. Light shield; 12. Vent. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] This section will describe in detail the specific embodiments of the present invention. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the accompanying drawings is to supplement the description of the text part of the specification with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present invention, but it cannot be understood as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] Example 1:

[0028] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the utility model provides a sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice, comprising:

[0029] Mounting base 1 is placed on a flat surface to provide a basic bearing surface for subsequent installation;

[0030] The inner culture cylinder 2 is arranged on the mounting base 1. The inner culture cylinder 2 is used to provide a space for the complete growth of the crop root system and meet the requirements of adapting to small observation equipment. The inner culture cylinder 2 includes two arc-shaped plates 201, two blocks 202 are fixedly installed on the side walls at both ends of one arc-shaped plate 201, and two slots 203 are provided on the side walls at both ends of the other arc-shaped plate 201. The blocks 202 and the slots 203 are plugged into each other with interference fit. An arc-shaped groove 204 is provided on the inner walls of the two arc-shaped plates 201. The two arc-shaped grooves 204 are located at the same height on the two arc-shaped plates 201. A bottom plate 205 is inserted into the arc-shaped groove 204, and a plurality of drainage holes 206 are provided on the bottom plate 205;

[0031] The middle-layer adapter tube 3 is arranged on the mounting base 1 and is sleeved on the outer side of the inner-layer culture tube 2. The middle-layer adapter tube 3 and the inner-layer culture tube 2 are detachably connected and meet the requirements of adapting to medium-sized observation equipment;

[0032] The outer expansion tube 4 is arranged on the mounting base 1 and is sleeved on the outside of the middle adapter tube 3. The outer expansion tube 4 and the middle adapter tube 3 are detachably connected and meet the requirements of adapting large-scale observation equipment.

[0033] During use, the inner culture tube 2 containing crops and soil is fixed on the base. The two curved plates 201 are spliced ​​together to facilitate the removal of the inner culture tube 2 without disturbing the crop roots inside. The bottom plate 205 set between the two curved plates 201 provides a foundation for the growth of crops. At the same time, the drainage holes 206 on the bottom plate 205 facilitate the discharge of excess water. At this time, a small CT device can be directly used for high-precision scanning. When it is necessary to switch to a medium-sized CT device for observation, it is only necessary to put the middle-layer adapter tube 3 on the outside of the inner tube. The entire process will not touch the roots growing in the inner culture tube 2. If industrial CT observation with a larger field of view is required, the outer-layer expansion tube 4 is put on the outside of the middle-layer adapter tube 3. Each tube is detachably connected to the base. The base also has drainage and ventilation functions, allowing crops to maintain a natural growth state. Without interfering with the normal growth state of the plants, researchers can select appropriate CT equipment for observation as needed to obtain complete three-dimensional root growth data from seedlings to maturity.

[0034] Example 2:

[0035] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, combined with the technical solution of Example 1, in this technical solution, three annular mounting grooves 5, small, medium and large, are provided on the surface of the mounting base 1. The shapes and sizes of the three annular mounting grooves 5 are respectively adapted to the inner culture tube 2, the middle adapter tube 3 and the outer expansion tube 4. The three annular mounting grooves 5 are distributed in sequence with the center point of the mounting base 1 as the origin. A number of radial water guide grooves 6 are provided on the surface of the mounting base 1. The inner culture tube 2 is placed in the smallest annular groove. When the middle adapter tube 3 needs to be installed, it is installed in the medium-sized annular groove. The outer expansion tube 4 is placed in the largest annular groove to ensure that each layer of the tube is stable and will not shake. The water guide grooves 6 designed on the surface of the base spread outward from the center. When watering, excess water can be quickly drained away and will not accumulate at the bottom to soak the root system.

[0036] Furthermore, positioning ridges 7 are fixedly mounted on the outer walls of the inner culture tube 2 and the middle adapter tube 3, respectively, and positioning grooves 8 are fixedly mounted on the inner walls of the middle adapter tube 3 and the outer expansion tube 4, respectively. The positioning ridges 7 and the positioning grooves 8 engage with each other. To remove or install the middle adapter tube 3 from the outer side of the inner culture tube 2, the positioning ridges 7 on the inner tube wall are aligned with the positioning grooves on the inner wall of the middle tube, and the tube is pushed downward until the two slide together. The engagement and removal of the ridges on the outer wall of the middle tube and the outer expansion tube 4 are similarly performed.

[0037] Furthermore, a carrying handle 9 is fixedly mounted on the outer wall of the outer expansion cylinder 4. When the entire device needs to be transported, the device can be moved by holding the handle on the outer wall of the cylinder. The design of the handle keeps the center of gravity stable during the movement, and the entire device can be transferred to different CT devices.

[0038] Furthermore, the bottoms of the inner culture tube 2, the middle adapter tube 3, and the outer expansion tube 4 are each provided with a plurality of water inlets 10. The shapes and sizes of these inlets 10 match the radial water channels 6. When watering crops, excess water flows from the inlets 10 at the bottom of the inner culture tube 2 into the water channels 6. From there, it gradually passes through the corresponding inlets 10 at the bottoms of the middle and outer tubes, ultimately draining out of the outlets of the water channels 6. This ensures unimpeded water flow. Regardless of which tube layer is used, excess water is quickly drained away, preventing water accumulation and root rot while maintaining appropriate humidity.

[0039] Furthermore, the inner culture tube 2 is made of polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate, the middle adapter tube 3 is made of a lightweight material, the outer expansion tube 4 is made of a composite material, and the mounting base 1 is made of a corrosion-resistant material. The inner culture tube 2 is made of transparent materials such as polycarbonate or plexiglass, allowing researchers to observe root growth at any time without affecting CT scan imaging quality. The middle adapter tube is made of lightweight and durable thermoplastics such as ABS or PP, making it lightweight and easy to carry. The outer expansion tube 4 is made of composite materials such as glass fiber reinforced plastic to protect the internal structure from damage. The base is made of corrosion-resistant materials such as high-density polyethylene, which will not rust or deform even after long-term contact with water and fertilizer.

[0040] Furthermore, a detachable light shield 11 is installed on the top of the inner culture tube 2. When it is necessary to simulate the natural soil environment, the light shield 11 is put on the top of the inner culture tube 2 to block light from entering and avoid affecting the natural growth state of the roots. When CT scanning or observation is required, the light shield 11 is removed without affecting the crop roots inside.

[0041] Furthermore, a plurality of vent holes 12 are evenly arranged on the wall of the inner culture cylinder 2. The vent holes 12 allow fresh air to circulate naturally, ensuring that the roots get enough oxygen, and excess water vapor can also evaporate slowly through these pores to avoid excessive humidity in the cylinder.

[0042] The working principle of the sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice in this application is as follows:

[0043] When in use, the inner culture tube 2 is installed on the base. The tube body is composed of two arc-shaped plates 201 with buckles. There are drainage holes 206 and air holes at the bottom to ensure the normal growth of crops. The root development of crops in the seedling period can be directly obtained by small CT scanning. When it is necessary to use medium-sized CT to observe the root system of crops, the inner culture tube 2 is separated along the middle connection and then removed from the base. The middle-layer adapter tube 3 is inserted into the corresponding installation groove on the base. Since the inner culture tube 2 is directly separated from both sides, it will not disturb the root system in the inner culture tube 2. Then use the medium-sized CT for observation. When it is necessary to use large-scale CT to observe the root system of crops, the outer expansion tube 4 is inserted into the corresponding position on the base. The middle-layer adapter tube 3 is placed in the position, and then the middle-layer adapter tube 3 is pulled out from the base. The size of the outer-layer expansion tube 4 is adapted to large-scale CT observation equipment. The outer-layer expansion tube 4 is equipped with a handle for easy transportation. The inner-layer culture tube 2 is made of transparent material for easy observation. The middle-layer adapter tube 3 is light and durable. The outer-layer expansion tube 4 is strong and stable. An annular groove and a water guide groove 6 are provided on the base to ensure that each layer of the tube is firmly installed and drains smoothly. The light shield 11 can be installed on the inner-layer culture tube 2 as needed to avoid light interfering with the growth of crop roots. This set of devices allows researchers to select CT equipment of different specifications as needed without disturbing the animals, and observe the three-dimensional dynamic changes of crop roots from seedlings to maturity, thereby improving the accuracy and continuity of experimental data.

[0044] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any person skilled in the art can utilize the above technical content to make many possible changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention, or modify it into an equivalent embodiment with equivalent changes. Therefore, any changes, modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technology of the present invention that do not depart from the content of the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice, characterized in that: include: A mounting base (1), the mounting base (1) being placed on a plane, the mounting base (1) providing a basic bearing surface for subsequent installation; An inner culture cylinder (2), the inner culture cylinder (2) being arranged on the mounting base (1), the inner culture cylinder (2) being used to provide a space for the complete growth of crop root systems and being adapted to small-sized observation equipment, the inner culture cylinder (2) comprising two arc-shaped plates (201), wherein two clamping blocks (202) are fixedly mounted on both end side walls of one of the arc-shaped plates (201), and two clamping grooves (203) are provided on both end side walls of the other arc-shaped plate (201), the clamping blocks (202) and the clamping grooves (203) being plugged into each other in an interference fit, an arc-shaped groove (204) being provided on the inner walls of the two arc-shaped plates (201), the two arc-shaped grooves (204) being located at the same height on the two arc-shaped plates (201), a bottom plate (205) being inserted into the arc-shaped groove (204), and a plurality of drainage holes (206) being provided on the bottom plate (205); A middle-layer adapting tube (3), the middle-layer adapting tube (3) is arranged on the mounting base (1) and sleeved on the outer side of the inner-layer culture tube (2), the middle-layer adapting tube (3) and the inner-layer culture tube (2) are detachably connected and meet the requirements of adapting to medium-sized observation equipment; An outer expansion tube (4) is provided on the mounting base (1) and sleeved on the outside of the middle adapter tube (3); the outer expansion tube (4) and the middle adapter tube (3) are detachably connected and meet the requirements of adapting large-scale observation equipment.

2. The sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the mounting base (1) is provided with three annular mounting grooves (5), namely small, medium and large. The shapes and sizes of the three annular mounting grooves (5) are respectively adapted to the inner culture cylinder (2), the middle adapter cylinder (3) and the outer expansion cylinder (4). The three annular mounting grooves (5) are distributed in sequence with the center point of the mounting base (1) as the origin. The surface of the mounting base (1) is provided with a plurality of radial water guide grooves (6).

3. The sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice according to claim 1, characterized in that: Positioning ridges (7) are fixedly mounted on the outer walls of the inner culture tube (2) and the middle adapter tube (3), and positioning matching grooves (8) are fixedly mounted on the inner walls of the middle adapter tube (3) and the outer expansion tube (4), and the positioning ridges (7) and the positioning matching grooves (8) are engaged with each other.

4. The sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice according to claim 3, characterized in that: A carrying handle (9) is fixedly mounted on the outer wall opposite to the outer expansion cylinder (4).

5. The sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottoms of the inner culture tube (2), the middle adapting tube (3) and the outer expansion tube (4) are all provided with a plurality of water guide ports (10), and the shapes and sizes of the plurality of water guide ports (10) are adapted to the plurality of radial water guide grooves (6).

6. The sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner culture cylinder (2) is made of polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate, the middle adapter cylinder (3) is made of a lightweight material, the outer expansion cylinder (4) is made of a composite material, and the mounting base (1) is made of a corrosion-resistant material.

7. The sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice according to claim 1, characterized in that: A light shield (11) is detachably mounted on the top of the inner culture cylinder (2).

8. The sample transfer and growth device for in-situ dynamic CT observation of rice according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of ventilation holes (12) are uniformly arranged on the wall surface of the inner culture cylinder (2).

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