About...

The Agar Root Phenotyping System represents a groundbreaking solution that redefines approaches to root research. Driven by state-of-the-art robotic technology, the system effortlesly handles PSI-developed Petri plates around the clock, throughout the every step of the phenotyping process. This encompasses tasks ranging from agar pouring and robotic seed sowing to the precise application of bacteria at the root-stem interface, and to comprehensive phenotypic evaluation conducted at various imaging stations.

Reduce lab work, increase scientific exploration

Key Features

Fully automated root & shoot screening system
Automation through robotic manipulation
Plants grown in vitro on agar plates
Comprehensive end-to-end workflow solution
Automated media pouring
Precise robotic seeding and seed sorting

Exact application of liquid solutions onto the specific root site
High-content imaging of multiple fluorescence proteins
High-resolution imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics
Absorption and fluorescence hyperspectral imaging
Cutting-edge neural network-based root image analysis

Agar Root Phenotyping System

The Agar Root Phenotyping System is designed for high-throughput, automated, software-controlled phenotyping of plants grown in vitro. The system is customized for efficient operation with PSI developed square Petri plates, and can accommodate thousands of plates at full capacity.

The Agar Root Phenotyping System is engineered to offer a comprehensive end-to-end workflow solution requiring no human intervention. The process initiates with sample preparation and cultivation, encompassing tasks such as media pouring and automated robotic seeding. It progresses through stratification at 5 °C to long-term cultivation of samples in “Growth Hotels”. Complete automation through robotic manipulation facilitates the integration of multiple imaging stations. These enable continuous non-invasive monitoring of root morphology, the detection of expression of various fluorescent proteins in plant roots, and the measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics in plant shoots. Uniquely, the system also includes fluorescence hyperspectral imaging of coumarins production. Additionally, it incorporates an application station that enables the sterile application of bacteria to a specified root site. The entire system is could be designed with an emphasis on sterility, and manipulation with GMO plants and bacteria.

Effortless Plate Preparation

A crucial component of the Hades system is the Plate Preparation Table. This remarkable engineering achievement provides seamless, fully automated sample preparation in a sterile atmosphere established through HEPA-based air filtration and UV-C sterilization. The table is capable of accommodating up to 1500 sterile Petri plates.

The cutting-edge platform is equipped with an automated agar pouring mechanism, guaranteeing precise filling of media from a commercial media preparation device. The station relies on two SCARA robots and conveyor belts to manage all aspects of sterile plate handling, eliminating the need for human intervention. Additionally, the platform includes a seeding robot, Boxeed, which sows seeds onto the agar in precise accordance with predefined parameters. The process involves image analysis of each seed to identify and select viable individuals.

Optimized Growth Environments

The Growth Hotel is a shelving cultivator designed exclusively for cultivating plant material on Petri plates. Within each Hotel, there are 4 shelves, each accommodating transport cassettes that each hold 20 plates. With the ability to hold 9 cassettes on each shelf, the total capacity of each Growth Hotel module is an impressive 720 Petri plates.

The Growth Hotel is equipped with multichannel LED illumination. Irradiance (up to 500 µmol.m-2.s-1), spectral quality and specific light regimes are adjustable for each shelf and each color channel separately via a user-friendly interface.

A dedicated section within the growing space is responsible for controlling seed stratification at a precisely maintained temperature of 5°C.

Cutting-Edge Imaging Insights

Guided by robotic arms, the samples are moved from the cultivation hotels to imaging stations for the study of root and shoot development. These stations capture chlorophyll fluorescence data, and compounds such as fluorescent proteins (GFP, YFP, RFP, mCherry) and coumarins are visualized without sample disruption. Hyperspectral cameras provide an extra layer of imaging sophistication, revealing the biochemical status of samples.

The state-of-the-art AI technology is utilized to analyze traits from the acquired images. The software employs one of the most renowned computer vision methods, Convolution Neural Networks (CNNs), to effectively segment root objects from the background.

Unique Bacterial Inoculation

The Hades system maintains exceptional chamber sterility, and facilitates direct pipetting of bacteria onto plant roots. This opens up a new frontier in research, enabling automated exploration of plant-microbe interactions.

Software

Comprehensive software package has been developed for system control, data acquisition, image analysis and database configuration. User friendly graphical interface is designed to control all hardware system components actions, to control and monitor environmental conditions and to design experiments with an extremely high level of flexibility.

For easier and user friendly control, system is equipped with Human Machine Interface with touch-screen display. Scheduling assistant with calendar function allows running multiple experiments simultaneously, provides different modes for experiment randomization, for treatment per plant or group of plants with different experimental protocols and plant handling. Software also allows users to set amount of media poured into plate and adjust seeding and pipetting protocols.

All acquired imaging, sedding and manipulation data are stored in an SQL database, processed and available for inspection and further analysis in range of seconds after recording via user-friendly graphical interface. PlantScreen^TM Data Analyser provides tools for data browsing, grouping, analysis, user-defined reprocessing and export. Multiple clients can be connected to the database, with different privileges assigned based on a built-in authentication mechanism. An SMS and mail notification service is integral part of the complete phenotyping system. 24-hour online support service is key component of the PlantScreen^TM phenotyping solution.

Key features of IT solution

Comprehensive software package for system control, data acquisition, image analysis and data base configuration
Open database structure
Flexibility to integrate custom external analyses
Data accessibility via the open Rest API
Root & shoot analysis based on Convolution Neural Networks (CNNs)
Remote access
Automatic SMS and email notification service
24-hours online support service

Why to use PlantScreen^TM Phenotyping System

In the search for beneficial traits that may allow crops to resist abiotic and biotic stresses, fast and accurate methods are required for efficient and effective plant high-throughput phenotyping. Such methods must involve automated measurements of plant morphology, biochemistry and physiology to determine potential and actual yield under a variety of monitored environmental conditions. With over 20 years’ experience of designing instrumentation for plant imaging PSI is now at the forefront of providing complete solutions PlantScreen^TM Phenotyping Systems for automated multidimensional plant phenotyping.

PlantScreen^TM Phenotyping Systems designed for integrative phenotyping on temporal and spatial level are proven in a range of applications across the world:

High-throughput screening
Morphology and growth assessment
Nutrient management
Photosynthetic performance
Abiotic stress
Pathogen interaction
Trait identification
Chemical screening
Nutrient effects

Customized solution

The Agar Root Phenotyping System is modular and designed so that additional features may be added as the user´s screening requirements evolve. Further standard layout in terms of dimensions, capacity and range of image-based sensors can be adapted in order to meet your specific research question.

Furthermore we make our state-of–art phenotyping facilities available for testing and proof-of-concept experiments. Contact us for more information.

Discuss your project and test your concept

The nature of the research questions is unique referring to distinct requirements you might have to answer your specific questions. Our goal is to consult with you extensively your project to ensure that our technology is configured to meet your needs precisely. At PSI we have team of plant physiologists, image-processing specialist and technical engineers that can help to shape your phenotyping projects to meet precisely your requirements.

FluorCam

The custom-designed High-Sensitivity Kinetic Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging Unit & Morphometric Unit is based on Flat FluorCam FC1300/2020 with Advanced Multi-Excitation Module and integrated 7-position motorized filter wheel, tailored for imaging of weak fluorescence signals from Fluorescence Proteins as well as Chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics and it also enables analysis of roots morphology in transmission mode. The system is optimized for roots imaging on square Petri dishes. The unit is fitted with the 12.36-megapixel CMOS sensor (Sony IMX253LQR-Q). The sensor delivers a resolution of 4112 × 3006 pixels as well as global shutter feature. The sensor is extremely sensitive and produces sharp, low-noise images.

Monochromatic Sensor
Sensor Technology	CMOS Monochromatic
Resolution (MPix)	12.36 (3.09 in binning mode)
Resolution (H × W)	4112 × 3006 (2056 × 1503 in binning mode)
Bit depth	12 bit
Sensor Size	1.1"
Shutter	Global Shutter
Max. fps in freerun mode	2
Sensor Model	Sony IMX253LLR-Q
Pixel size	3.45 µm (6.9 µm, in binning mode)

Design
Interface	GigE
Lens Mount	F - Mount
Camera Dimensions (H × W × L)	200 mm × 132 mm × 95 mm
Power supply	12 V - 24V

Lights
Chlorophyll fluorescence module	Red-Orange (620 nm), Cool-White (5700K), Far-Red (735nm)
Multicolor module	UV (365 nm), Royal Blue (450 nm), Blue (470 nm), Cyan (505 nm), Green (530 nm), Amber (590 nm)
Morphometric module	Cool-White (5700K)

Emission filters
Filters	F469, F483, F513, F565, F586, F593, F520, F635, glass,

VNIR Hyperspectral Imaging Unit

The VNIR Hyperspectral Imaging Unit was specially developed for measurement of fluoresce substances in the root system of plants grown on square Petri dishes. The UV light of 365nm is used for excitation of fluorescent emission signals in the visible and near infrared region of the spectrum (380 – 900 nm). Step-scanning mode enables the use of long integration times when imaging the fluorescence signals. The unit also contains white light which is used in a transmission geometry to generate a plant and root outline mask.

Imaging & Optical Data
Spectral Range	350 – 900 nm
Band Size	520 nm
Entrance Slit Width	50 µm
Dispersion/Pixel	0.28 nm/pixel
Wavelength Resolution, FWHM	2 nm
Spatial Resolution	500 pixels
Spectral Resolution	480 pixels
Image Frequency	45 fps

Sensor
Type	CMOS
Size	1/1.2"
Resolution	1,920 × 1,000 pixels
Bit Depth	12 bit
Pixel Size	5.86 µm
Dynamic Range	67 dB

Lights
Reflectance mode	White
Fluorescence mode	UV

Connection
Control & Data	GigE

[h1]Promotional Materials[/h1] [list] [*][b] Hades System leaflet (pdf)[/b] [/list]