Methods and devices for non-invasive root phenotyping

An electronic device for monitoring growth of a root of a plant in a soil location, comprising:

• a support structure suitable for arrangement adjacent to the soil location;
• and
• a plurality of electronic sensors affixed to the support structure, wherein at least one electronic sensor of the plurality of electronic sensors comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil;
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode;
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide an electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal response at the first conductor plate in the second mode of the switch.

A method for monitoring growth of a plant root of an electronic device comprising one or more processors, memory, and a plurality of sensors positioned around the plant root, the method comprising:

• electrically charging, at a sensor among the plurality of sensors, a first conductor plate from a power supply over a first predetermined time;
• electrically uncoupling the first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil from the power supply;
• extracting a signal response at the first conductor plate over a second predetermined time;
• determining whether a portion of the signal response exceeds a threshold value, wherein a root presence is associated with a determination that the portion of the signal response exceeded the threshold value;
• and
• storing a root presence indicator to the memory in accordance with the portion of the signal response exceeding the threshold value.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to:

• electrically charge, at a sensor among the plurality of sensors, a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil from a power supply over a first predetermined time;
• electrically uncouple the first conductor plate from the power supply;
• extract a signal response at the first conductor plate over a second predetermined time;
• determine whether a portion of the signal response exceeds a threshold value, wherein a root presence is associated with a determination that the portion of the signal response exceeded the threshold value;
• and
• store a root presence indicator to a memory in accordance with the portion of the signal response exceeding the threshold value.

A device for monitoring growth of a plant root, comprising:

• a cage structure suitable for arrangement around the plant root;
• a plurality of root sensors affixed to the cage structure, wherein each root sensor of the plurality is configured to detect the presence of the plant root, and wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• one or more processors configured to receive data from the plurality of root sensors;
• and a power source coupled to the one or more processors and the plurality of root sensors.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to:

• receive data representing an input from a root sensor of a plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from a plant root of a plant in a soil location, wherein the plurality of root sensors is positioned around the soil location, wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality of root sensors comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• and
• determine a growth characteristic of the plant root based on the data.

A method for monitoring growth of a plant root at a device comprising one or more processors and a plurality of root sensors positioned around the plant root, the method comprising:

• receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from the plant root, and wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• and
• determining a growth characteristic of the plant root based on the data.

A device comprising:

• a plurality of root sensors, and wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• one or more processors;
• a memory;
• and
• one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
• receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from a plant root;
• and
• determining a growth characteristic of the plant root based on the data.

A method for monitoring growth of a plant root, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of root sensors around a soil location, wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• planting a seed in the soil location;
• after the seed has grown into a plant having a plant root, receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from the plant root;
• and
• determining a growth characteristic of the plant root based on the data.

A method for monitoring growth of a plant root, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of root sensors around a soil location, wherein a plant having a plant root is planted in the soil location, and wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from the plant root;
• and
• determining a growth characteristic of the plant root based on the data.

A method for selecting a plant for breeding based on a root growth characteristic, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of root sensors around a soil location, wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• planting a seed in the soil location;
• after the seed has grown into a plant having a plant root, receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from the plant root;
• determining a root growth characteristic of the plant root based on the data;
• and
• selecting the plant for breeding based on the determined root growth characteristic.

A method for determining an effect of a plant-microbe interaction on a root growth characteristic, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of root sensors around a soil location;
• planting a first seed in the soil location;
• inoculating the soil location with a first microbe;
• after the first seed has grown into a first plant having a first plant root, and after a plant-microbe interaction is established between the first plant and the first microbe:
• receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from the first plant root;
• determining a first root growth characteristic of the first plant root based on the data;
• determining a reference root growth characteristic of a reference plant root from a reference plant of the same species as the first plant;
• and
• determining the effect of the plant-microbe interaction on the first root growth characteristic by comparing the first root growth characteristic to the reference root growth characteristic.

A method for determining an effect of a plant-microbe interaction on a root growth characteristic, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of root sensors around a soil location;
• inoculating a first seed with a first microbe;
• planting the first seed in the soil location;
• after the first seed has grown into a first plant having a first plant root, and after a plant-microbe interaction is established between the first plant and the first microbe:
• receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors, wherein the input is from the first plant root;
• determining a first root growth characteristic of the first plant root based on the data;
• determining a reference root growth characteristic of a reference plant root from a reference plant of the same species as the first plant;
• and
• determining the effect of the plant-microbe interaction on the first root growth characteristic by comparing the first root growth characteristic to the reference root growth characteristic.

A method for monitoring a soil organism, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of root sensors around a soil location, wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• planting a seed in the soil location;
• after the seed has grown into a plant having a plant root, and after the soil organism has invaded the soil location, receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors;
• based on the data, determining whether the input is from the plant root or the soil organism;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the input is from the soil organism:
• monitoring the soil organism based on the data.

A method for monitoring a soil organism, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of root sensors around a soil location, wherein a plant having a plant root is planted in the soil location, wherein the soil organism has invaded the soil location, and wherein at least one root sensor of the plurality comprises:
• a first conductor plate configured to be disposed in soil,
• a switch electrically coupled to the first conductor plate, wherein the switch is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode,
• a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a first electrical charge to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch, and
• a signal extractor electrically coupled to the switch, wherein, in the second mode of the switch, the signal extractor is configured to extract a signal at the first conductor plate based on the first electrical charge provided to the first conductor plate in the first mode of the switch;
• receiving data representing an input from a root sensor of the plurality of root sensors;
• based on the data, determining whether the input is from the plant root or the soil organism;
• and
• in accordance with a determination that the input is from the soil organism:
• monitoring the soil organism based on the data.