Quantification of the three-dimensional root system architecture using an automated rotating imaging system

作者：Qian Wu, Jie Wu, Pengcheng Hu, Weixin Zhang, Weixin Zhang, Yuntao Ma, Kun Yu, Yan Guo, Jing Cao, Huayong Li, Baiming Li, Yuyang Yao, Hongxin Cao, Wenyu Zhang, Wenyu Zhang · 发表于：Plant Methods · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1186/s13007-023-00988-1 · 被引用次数：26 · 研究领域：Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism、Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement、Plant Molecular Biology Research

BACKGROUND: Crop breeding based on root system architecture (RSA) optimization is an essential factor for improving crop production in developing countries. Identification, evaluation, and selection of root traits of soil-grown crops require innovations that enable high-throughput and accurate quantification of three-dimensional (3D) RSA of crops over developmental time. RESULTS: We proposed an automated imaging system and 3D imaging data processing pipeline to quantify the 3D RSA of soil-grown individual plants across seedlings to the mature stage. A multi-view automated imaging system composed of a rotary table and an imaging arm with 12 cameras mounted with a combination of fan-shaped and vertical distribution was developed to obtain 3D image data of roots grown on a customized root support mesh. A 3D imaging data processing pipeline was developed to quantify the 3D RSA based on the point cloud generated from multi-view images. The global architecture of root systems can be quantified automatically. Detailed analysis of the reconstructed 3D root model also allowed us to investigate the Spatio-temporal distribution of roots. A method combining horizontal slicing and iterative erosion and dilation was developed to automatically segment different root types, and identify local root traits (e.g., length, diameter of the main root, and length, diameter, initial angle, and the number of nodal roots or lateral roots). One maize (Zea mays L.) cultivar and two rapeseed (Brassica na...