Pitfalls and potential of high-throughput plant phenotyping platforms

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Agricultural Technology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Automated high-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) systems are increasingly adopted for non-invasive plant evaluation.
• Significant investments are being made in HTPP infrastructure, necessitating careful planning and interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To guide researchers in prudently planning, acquiring, and utilizing HTPP facilities.
• To highlight critical considerations for maximizing the value and accuracy of HTPP data.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of financial and time investments for HTPP.
• Evaluation of HTPP equipment constraints (flexibility, growth conditions).
• Assessment of non-destructive measurements, proxy traits, and calibration curve utilization.

Main Results:

• Diurnal leaf angle changes can cause >20% deviation in plant size estimates from top-view cameras.
• Curvilinear relationships between total and projected leaf area necessitate accurate calibration, not simple linear models.
• Calibration curves require frequent generation and may need to be specific to treatments, seasons, or genotypes.

Conclusions:

• HTPP systems are powerful tools for plant biologists when tailored to research needs.
• Awareness of potential pitfalls, such as calibration inaccuracies and equipment limitations, is crucial for successful HTPP implementation.