Our Topics at the Fair
Technology Center Phenotyping at the Merkendorf Location
At the Technology Center for Phenotyping, we focus specifically on the development and testing of technologies that can be used for the phenotyping of plants, thereby enabling objective assessments of specific plant traits and quality control. The highlight of the location is a »Controlled Environment System«, which allows for the growth of up to 400 plants under defined environmental conditions using various sensors. Unique is the combination of above-ground imaging using 3D RGB sensors and underground root segmentation using 3D computed tomography. At the Technology Center, we cover the entire value chain with our research on non-invasive sensor systems: from seeds to seedling analytics, plant phenotyping, field emergence, and harvesting.
DeBiFiX: Reliable Yield Prediction Using X-ray Technology
Using the autonomous field robot DeBiFiX (Determination of Biomass on the Field with X-ray), it is possible to make detailed biomass assessments in the field of growing plants. With X-ray technology, optically inaccessible fruits such as chickpea pods, rapeseed pods, or wheat ears can be completely captured and digitally evaluated. Thanks to the non-destructive method, this can be repeated, providing a dynamic picture of yield development throughout the growing season. The technology can be further expanded with additional cognitive sensor systems such as RGB, hyperspectral, and laser light cutting. Breeding questions such as the early selection of high-yielding and stress-resistant varieties can thus be addressed significantly faster, more precisely, and more efficiently than before.
Flexible Drone Sensor Platform for Field Phenotyping
Phenotyping plants in the field, plantation, or their natural environment is a crucial complement to experiments in greenhouses or completely controlled environmental conditions. The flexible drone sensor platform we developed enables the capture of land and forestry installations that are difficult to access from the ground. By optimizing the flight path specifically for the application purpose, a comprehensive and detailed capture of individual plants can be realized. The drone provides an interface to integrate various sensors or sensor combinations (RGB, multispectral, LIDAR, etc.).
CTportable 2.0
The CTportable 2.0 has been specifically designed for the quality analysis of seed and seedling samples and allows for a cost-efficient and compact setup that can be expanded with an automation system at any time. The mobile CT device includes a powerful X-ray source and a fast detector, as well as a manipulation system with a lifting axis and precise rotating device. The configuration allows for the analysis of seeds based on their size, segmentation of individual seeds, and a more detailed analysis of (virtual) internal layers within a single seed. With the existing algorithms for seedling analysis, parameters such as 1000-kernel weight, germination power, and germinability can be determined. CTportable is an ideal tool for selective plant breeding.
Plant2Trait: Innovative Solutions for Climate Change
Breeding new varieties adapted to regionally altered environmental conditions is key to ensuring global food security. For rapid breeding success, an accurate understanding of the genotype as well as the objective characterization of the phenotype of individual individuals of a crop are crucial. Our multispectral Plant2Trait technology enables the complete and detailed capture of complex plant architectures and the automatic derivation of phenotypic traits using AI-supported algorithms. By utilizing full 3D information, important characteristics such as leaf area, curvature, petiole angle, and local vitality status can be accurately determined, unlike conventional 2D image evaluation.
Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS
