High-flux plant leaf growth rate monitoring device

Abstract

The utility model provides a high-flux plant leaf growth rate monitoring device, which comprises a support frame and a plurality of transparent tubes vertically arranged on the support frame, cavities for plant leaves to extend into are arranged in the transparent tubes, a light source is arranged above the support frame, and a camera over against the plant leaves is arranged on the side surface of the support frame. According to the utility model, the plurality of transparent tubes are arranged, so that the plant leaves extend into the cavities of the transparent tubes, and the growth rate of the plant is convenient to observe; a plurality of plants can be arranged at the same time, and monitoring and observation can be carried out at the same time, so that high-throughput monitoring of forms, development periods and leaf growth states of different types of plants / crops is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of botany, and in particular to a device for monitoring the growth rate of plant leaves. Background Technology

[0002] Plants / crops, as sessile living organisms, can predict periodic changes in the external environment and regulate their own growth and development to maintain synchronization with environmental signals. Monitoring the diurnal growth rate of leaves helps to understand the plant / crop's response to the environment. High-throughput screening of germplasm resources that rapidly respond to environmental changes can accelerate the breeding process.

[0003] However, the differences in morphology, developmental stage, and leaf growth status among different plant / crop species hinder high-throughput monitoring, leading to problems such as unstable diurnal rhythm parameters and low sensitivity. Currently, there is a lack of high-throughput monitoring devices suitable for monitoring the morphology, developmental stage, and leaf growth status of different plant / crop species.

[0004] Chinese invention application CN 112544276 A, published on March 26, 2021, discloses a multifunctional intelligent plant growth monitoring chamber, including an artificial rainfall unit, an intelligent irrigation unit, a light monitoring unit, an internal airflow circulation unit, an intelligent aeration unit, and a remote intelligent control unit. The artificial rainfall unit can set parameters such as rainfall intensity and duration; the intelligent irrigation unit can intelligently control irrigation time and drip irrigation flow rate, and is equipped with a rainwater recovery device; the light monitoring unit is used to adjust and detect the light intensity and duration required for plant growth; the internal airflow circulation unit is mainly used to control indoor temperature and humidity, and to perform periodic indoor ventilation; the intelligent aeration unit controls the aeration rate and aeration time of the plant growth tank; and the remote intelligent control unit mainly sends commands to other units from outside via a computer touchscreen to perform various process operations. However, this plant growth monitoring chamber is not suitable for high-throughput monitoring of the morphology, developmental stage, and leaf growth status of different types of plants / crops. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this utility model proposes a high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring device to solve the problem of the lack of high-throughput monitoring devices in the prior art that can be applied to the monitoring of morphology, development stage, and leaf growth status of different types of plants / crops.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0007] A high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring device includes a support frame and several transparent tubes vertically mounted on the support frame. Each transparent tube has a cavity for plant leaves to extend into. A light source is located above the support frame, and a camera facing the plant leaves is mounted on the side of the support frame. This invention, by using multiple transparent tubes, allows plant leaves to extend into the cavities of the tubes, facilitating the observation of plant growth rates. Furthermore, multiple plants can be monitored simultaneously, thus achieving high-throughput monitoring of the morphology, developmental stage, and leaf growth status of different plant / crop species.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes tracer beads, which are placed at the tips of plant leaves.

[0009] Furthermore, the support frame is provided with at least two layers of mesh for fixing the transparent tube.

[0010] Furthermore, the side of the transparent tube furthest from the camera has a black background.

[0011] Furthermore, the black background is vertically positioned in the middle of the support frame so that it can assist in monitoring the plant leaves inside the transparent tubes on both sides.

[0012] Furthermore, the camera is provided in at least two units, located on both sides of the support frame and facing the transparent tubes on both sides of the black background.

[0013] Furthermore, the transparent tube comprises multiple transparent plastic tubes of the same and / or different diameters.

[0014] Furthermore, the bottom of the support frame is provided with a tray for placing plants.

[0015] Furthermore, the light source includes a lamp tube, which is connected to a timer controller.

[0016] Furthermore, the camera is mounted on a lifting platform.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0018] 1. This utility model can replace the sleeve of different specifications according to the size of the plant leaves, which effectively solves the problem of jamming that may occur during the leaf growth process. It can be applied to the monitoring of the morphology, development stage and leaf growth status of different kinds of plants / crops.

[0019] 2. This utility model improves the monitoring effect by using a light source with photoperiod control suitable for the growth cycle of plants / crops and a calibration scale for measuring leaf growth rate, and by measuring leaf growth rate in real time.

[0020] 3. The high-throughput detection device of this utility model can screen out germplasm resources that respond quickly to environmental changes and accelerate the breeding process;

[0021] 4. This utility model is suitable for a variety of plants / crops, including monocotyledonous plants / crops, for long-term monitoring of leaf growth rate, including rhythmic growth; Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of AA.

[0025] In the image: 1. Light source, 2. Support frame, 3. Tracer ball, 4. Camera, 5. Lifting platform, 6. Transparent tube, 7. Tray, 8. Grid, 9. Black background. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0027] like Figure 1As shown in Embodiment 1 of this utility model, a high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring device includes a support frame 2 and several transparent tubes 6, which are vertically mounted on the support frame 2. Plants are placed below the support frame 2, and each transparent tube 6 has a vertical cavity for plant leaves to extend into, allowing the leaves to grow upwards within the cavity and facilitating observation of growth height. In this embodiment, multiple transparent tubes 6 are provided, facilitating the monitoring of the growth of multiple plants / crops. Furthermore, each transparent tube 6 has an opening to allow air to enter the cavity. Small holes are also provided on the tube body to maintain a relatively stable humidity level inside the tube. A light source 1 is located above the support frame 2 to provide the plants with the light required for photosynthesis. A camera 4 is located on the side of the support frame 2, facing the plant leaves, for observing and recording the plant's growth height. In another embodiment, this growth rate monitoring device is installed in a walk-in incubator, with the light source 1 positioned at the top of the incubator. In another embodiment, the light source 1 may be positioned at the top of the support frame 2.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the transparent tube 6 comprises multiple transparent plastic tubes of the same and / or different diameters, facilitating monitoring of the growth of different plant leaves. Furthermore, the transparent tube 6 is provided with graduations, or a vertical ruler is provided on one side of the tube or within the support frame 2, for obtaining the growth height.

[0029] Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the support frame 2 has at least two layers of mesh 8 for fixing the transparent tube 6. The mesh 8 is a plastic mesh, with two layers in total. The two layers of plastic mesh are fixed to the support frame 2 by plastic nylon cable ties, and are used to fix the transparent tube 6 near its upper and lower ends, respectively. The transparent tube 6 is fixed after passing through the mesh openings of the plastic mesh. The fixing method is either adhesive bonding or binding. After the transparent tube 6 is fixed, it prevents the sleeve from moving due to leaf growth, thus affecting the stability of the data.

[0030] Example 3 differs from Example 2 in that, as Figure 1 As shown, it also includes a tracer ball 3, which is disposed at the tip of the plant leaf. In this embodiment, the tracer ball 3 is a foam ball, which is attached to the tip of the plant leaf by adhesive.

[0031] Example 4 differs from Example 3 in that, as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, a black background 9 is provided on the side of the transparent tube 6 away from the camera 4. The black background 9 is made of black cardstock, which is vertically fixed to the support frame 2. The black background 9 and the camera 4 are located on opposite sides of the transparent tube 6, with the lens of the camera 4 facing the transparent tube 6. With the assistance of the black background 9, the plant growth images captured by the camera 4 are clearer.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the black background 9 is vertically arranged in the middle of the support frame 2 so that the black background 9 can assist in the monitoring of plant leaves inside the transparent tubes 6 on both sides.

[0033] Accordingly, at least two cameras 4 are provided, with the at least two cameras 4 located on both sides of the support frame 2, and the cameras 4 facing the transparent tubes 6 on both sides of the black background 9 respectively.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the camera 4 is mounted on a lifting platform 5. The lifting platform 5 is a manual shear-type lifting platform in the prior art.

[0035] Example 5 differs from Example 4 in that, as Figure 1 As shown, the bottom of the support frame 2 is provided with a tray 7 for placing plants. The tray 7 contains a nutrient pot containing the plant.

[0036] Example 6 differs from Example 5 in that the light source 1 includes a lamp tube connected to a timer controller to enable timed on / off operation of the light source 1.

[0037] In Example 7, specifically, the support frame 2 is a movable frame made of lightweight aluminum profile. The transparent tube 6 is a thin, easily cut transparent plastic sleeve, approximately 30 cm in length, with an opening diameter of approximately 2.0 cm, 1.5 cm, and 1.2 cm. To ensure relatively stable humidity inside the sleeve, holes are made in the wall of the plastic transparent sleeve. To fix the transparent sleeve, plastic mesh is cut and fixed to the top and bottom of the aluminum profile support frame 2 using plastic nylon cable ties. The bottom mesh is 20-30 cm from the ground, and a hole is made at the top of the transparent sleeve for further fixing, preventing the sleeve from moving due to leaf growth and thus affecting data stability.

[0038] The black cardstock is secured to the center of support frame 2 by a pair of clips. These clips are integrated into the movable aluminum frame. The clips are approximately right-angled triangular structures, with a pair of clips positioned back-to-back to hold the black cardstock in the middle. One side of each clip is fixed to support frame 2 with screws, while the other side of the clip adheres to the black cardstock and another clip, securing it in place. Alternatively, bolts can be used to connect the two clips through the black cardstock. The black cardstock divides support frame 2 into left and right sides, each capable of holding 8-10 plastic sleeves. Each plastic sleeve can hold one leaf of a monocotyledonous plant / crop for monitoring. The camera is positioned approximately 35 cm from the front row and approximately 40 cm from the back row, recording data on monocotyledonous leaf growth (capturing an image every 30 minutes). A lifting platform is used to adjust the camera height. The bottom tray should be appropriately sized to match the bottom area of ​​the monitoring device; smaller nutrient pots can be selected to increase the platform's monitoring throughput. After monitoring is completed, the captured data is downloaded via data cable. Image analysis software such as ImageJ or Image-Pro Plus is used to automatically identify the trajectory of the tracer ball and extract leaf growth rate data. FFT-NLLS analysis is then performed using Brass software to calculate the rhythm parameters of leaf growth rate.

[0039] To address the issue of inconsistent plant height and leaf length among different plants / crops, the diameter of the aluminum profile movable frame and plastic sleeve can be adjusted according to the actual plant leaf growth, thereby ensuring that this method can be used for monitoring the growth rate of various monocotyledonous plants / crops.

[0040] The light and temperature conditions of the platform can be adjusted according to experimental needs: the light cycle is achieved by connecting the lamp tube to the timer to turn the lamp on / off at a set time; the temperature can be directly controlled by the walk-in incubator, or precisely controlled by 2-4 air conditioners depending on the size of the incubation room.

[0041] Example 8: This example uses continuous monitoring of maize leaf growth rate for 72 hours as an example. The specific process is as follows:

[0042] Step 1. Material Cultivation

[0043] Select plump, pest-free seeds, rinse them thoroughly with water, and place them in a petri dish. Cover the seeds with moistened filter paper to promote germination. After germination, select well-germinating seedlings and plant them in a 2-3 cm layer of potting soil (potting soil: vermiculite = 1:1). Incubate at 25℃, 40%-60% humidity, 12L / 12D, and approximately 300 μmol / m² light. –2 s –l Under the cultivation conditions, when the third leaf grows to 5-10cm (about 7-8 days after germination), select seedlings with uniform growth and monitor the rhythm of the growth rate of the third leaf using a machine.

[0044] Step 2. Loading materials onto the machine

[0045] Once the material has reached the aforementioned growth time and is at a suitable height, it should be quickly placed in the growth rate monitoring device of this invention at 8:00 AM the following morning to avoid affecting the period, phase, and amplitude of its leaf growth rate due to prolonged placement. The growth rate monitoring device of this invention operates under continuous light, with a light intensity of approximately 50 μmol / m². –2 s –l The temperature is 25℃ and the humidity is 40%-60%. Foam tracer balls are attached to the tips of the selected leaves of monocotyledonous plants / crops as tracers. These are placed in plastic sleeves with the tracer balls facing the camera. The position of each plant is carefully coordinated to avoid affecting its normal growth. The remaining leaves of each plant need to be adjusted according to their placement and the camera angle to avoid obstructing the tracer balls and affecting data quality.

[0046] After the plant is placed in the device, it needs to be connected to a computer and a camera via a data cable. The camera shooting conditions should be set and the channel name modified (to record the name of the material on this device). The growth of the material's leaves is then recorded by the camera, taking a picture every 30 minutes. The monitoring period is 3-4 days. Throughout the entire monitoring process, it is necessary to ensure that there is always water in the bottom tray to prevent leaf growth from being affected by lack of water.

[0047] Step 3. Unloading materials from the machine

[0048] After shooting, the images are exported from the camera's built-in memory. ImageJ or Image-Pro Plus software is used to identify the trajectory of the tracking foam balls and extract leaf growth data to detect the growth rate of the plant / crop. Brass software is then used for FFT-NLLS analysis of the period, phase, and amplitude. The aforementioned scales or markings are calculated based on the actual height equivalent to the height in the image at a defined distance between the camera and the transparent tube 6, facilitating data extraction by the analysis software.

[0049] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that any modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions of some or all of the technical features thereof, within the spirit and principles of the present invention, do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and should all be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring device, characterized in that, The device comprises a support frame (2) and several transparent tubes (6) vertically arranged on the support frame (2), the transparent tubes (6) are provided with cavities for the plant leaves to extend into, the support frame (2) is provided with a light source (1) above, and the side of the support frame (2) is provided with a camera (4) facing the plant leaves.

2. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The device further comprises a tracer ball (3) arranged at the top of the plant leaves.

3. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, At least two layers of grids (8) for fixing the transparent tubes (6) are arranged on the support frame (2).

4. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The side of the transparent tube (6) away from the camera (4) is provided with a black background (9).

5. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 4, wherein, The black background (9) is vertically arranged at the middle of the support frame (2) so as to assist the monitoring of the plant leaves in the transparent tubes (6) on both sides.

6. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 5, wherein, The camera (4) is provided with at least two cameras, which are respectively arranged on both sides of the support frame (2) and face the transparent tubes (6) on both sides of the black background (9).

7. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 1 or 2 or 5 or 6, wherein, The transparent tube (6) comprises a plurality of transparent plastic tubes with same and / or different diameters.

8. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 1 or 2 or 5 or 6, wherein, The bottom of the support frame (2) is provided with a tray (7) for placing the plants.

9. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 1 or 2 or 5 or 6, wherein, The light source (1) comprises a lamp tube connected with a time controller.

10. The high-throughput plant leaf growth rate monitoring apparatus of claim 1 or 2 or 5 or 6, wherein, The camera (4) is arranged on a lifting platform (5).

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