Nondestructive real-time test and detection of gall-forming plant-parasitic nematodes

A device, comprising:

• a transparent tube configured to be positioned in soil near a plant root;
• a camera module configured to be moved to various depths in the transparent tube;
• and
• circuitry coupled to the camera module, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
• move the camera module to a first specified depth in the transparent tube;
• capture multiple images of a soil environment surrounding the transparent tube at the first specified depth, the soil environment including the plant root, wherein the multiple images include images captured at multiple angles relative to the plant root;
• move the camera module to a second specified depth in the transparent tube;
• and
• capture multiple images of the soil environment surrounding the transparent tube at the second specified depth, the soil environment including the plant root, wherein the multiple images include images captured at multiple angles relative to the plant root.

A system, comprising:

• a computer processor comprising a memory;
• a minirhizotron device, comprising:
• a transparent tube configured to be positioned in soil near a plant root;
• a camera module configured to be moved to various depths in the transparent tube;
• and
• circuitry coupled to the camera module, wherein the circuitry is configured to:
• move the camera module to a first specified depth in the transparent tube;
• capture multiple images of a soil environment surrounding the transparent tube at the first specified depth, the soil environment including the plant root, wherein the multiple images include images captured at multiple angles relative to the plant root;
• move the camera module to a second specified depth in the transparent tube;
• and
• capture multiple images of the soil environment surrounding the transparent tube at the second specified depth, the soil environment including the plant root, wherein the multiple images include images captured at multiple angles relative to the plant root;
• and
• transfer the captured images to the computer processor;
• wherein the computer processor is configured to:
• receive the captured images from the circuitry coupled to the camera module;
• assemble the captured images into a single image of the soil environment surrounding the transparent tube;
• and
• identify portions of the plant root in the single image.

A method, comprising:

• moving a camera module positioned in a transparent tube to a first specified depth in the transparent tube, wherein the transparent tube is positioned in soil near a root of a plant;
• capturing multiple images of the plant root at the first specified depth, wherein the multiple images include images captured at multiple angles relative to the plant root;
• moving the camera module to a second specified depth in the transparent tube;
• capturing multiple images of the plant root at the second specified depth, wherein the multiple images include images captured at multiple angles relative to the plant root;
• assembling the captured images into a single image of a soil environment surrounding the transparent tube;
• and
• identifying portions of the plant root in the single image.