Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production Conditions

Existing methods of observing plant roots are often limited by their inability to monitor the physiological information of root system under actual agricultural conditions. To address this limitation, we developed a novel method that enables nonlaboratory monitoring of the growth characteristics of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ziyi Jin, Daisuke Yasutake, Yuki Sago, Tadashige Iwao, Gaku Yokoyama, Tomoyoshi Hirota
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) 2025-02-01
Series:HortScience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/3/article-p303.xml
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1825208851067043840
author Ziyi Jin
Daisuke Yasutake
Yuki Sago
Tadashige Iwao
Gaku Yokoyama
Tomoyoshi Hirota
author_facet Ziyi Jin
Daisuke Yasutake
Yuki Sago
Tadashige Iwao
Gaku Yokoyama
Tomoyoshi Hirota
author_sort Ziyi Jin
collection DOAJ
description Existing methods of observing plant roots are often limited by their inability to monitor the physiological information of root system under actual agricultural conditions. To address this limitation, we developed a novel method that enables nonlaboratory monitoring of the growth characteristics of crop root systems. This study explored the application of hyperspectral imaging technology to analyze the dynamic growth and aging of root systems throughout the cultivation period, specifically focusing on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L., cv. Wase Kurone Horenso) roots in a transparent hydroponics bed in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system. Root systems of spinach grown in the transparent bed were observed daily using a hyperspectral camera. An optimal index for the classification of root ages (days after emergence) was determined as the ratio of reflectance at 498 and 601 nm. Additionally, the distribution of root age was visualized over the entire cultivation period and showed the daily dynamics of root growth and aging. This study is useful for analyzing not only the growth but also the proportion of roots at different ages in the entire root system. This deepens our understanding of root development in soilless farming environments and provides an efficient, nondestructive technique for evaluating root vitality and developmental patterns.
format Article
id doaj-art-4c11d151971341ae9d728031cd51c5bf
institution Kabale University
issn 2327-9834
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)
record_format Article
series HortScience
spelling doaj-art-4c11d151971341ae9d728031cd51c5bf2025-02-06T17:08:48ZengAmerican Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)HortScience2327-98342025-02-01603https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18327-24Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production ConditionsZiyi Jin0Daisuke Yasutake1Yuki Sago2Tadashige Iwao3Gaku Yokoyama4Tomoyoshi Hirota5Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, JapanFaculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; and IoP Co-Creation Center, Kochi University, Nankoku, 783-8502, JapanFaculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, JapanIoP Co-Creation Center, Kochi University, Nankoku, 783-8502, JapanFaculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, JapanFaculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 819-0395, JapanExisting methods of observing plant roots are often limited by their inability to monitor the physiological information of root system under actual agricultural conditions. To address this limitation, we developed a novel method that enables nonlaboratory monitoring of the growth characteristics of crop root systems. This study explored the application of hyperspectral imaging technology to analyze the dynamic growth and aging of root systems throughout the cultivation period, specifically focusing on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L., cv. Wase Kurone Horenso) roots in a transparent hydroponics bed in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system. Root systems of spinach grown in the transparent bed were observed daily using a hyperspectral camera. An optimal index for the classification of root ages (days after emergence) was determined as the ratio of reflectance at 498 and 601 nm. Additionally, the distribution of root age was visualized over the entire cultivation period and showed the daily dynamics of root growth and aging. This study is useful for analyzing not only the growth but also the proportion of roots at different ages in the entire root system. This deepens our understanding of root development in soilless farming environments and provides an efficient, nondestructive technique for evaluating root vitality and developmental patterns.https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/3/article-p303.xmlnutrient film techniquenondestructive methodspectral reflectancespinach
spellingShingle Ziyi Jin
Daisuke Yasutake
Yuki Sago
Tadashige Iwao
Gaku Yokoyama
Tomoyoshi Hirota
Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production Conditions
HortScience
nutrient film technique
nondestructive method
spectral reflectance
spinach
title Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production Conditions
title_full Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production Conditions
title_fullStr Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production Conditions
title_short Combining Hyperspectral Imaging and a Transparent Hydroponics Bed to Analyze Growth and Age Distribution Dynamics of Entire Root Systems in Leafy Vegetables under In Situ Production Conditions
title_sort combining hyperspectral imaging and a transparent hydroponics bed to analyze growth and age distribution dynamics of entire root systems in leafy vegetables under in situ production conditions
topic nutrient film technique
nondestructive method
spectral reflectance
spinach
url https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/60/3/article-p303.xml
work_keys_str_mv AT ziyijin combininghyperspectralimagingandatransparenthydroponicsbedtoanalyzegrowthandagedistributiondynamicsofentirerootsystemsinleafyvegetablesunderinsituproductionconditions
AT daisukeyasutake combininghyperspectralimagingandatransparenthydroponicsbedtoanalyzegrowthandagedistributiondynamicsofentirerootsystemsinleafyvegetablesunderinsituproductionconditions
AT yukisago combininghyperspectralimagingandatransparenthydroponicsbedtoanalyzegrowthandagedistributiondynamicsofentirerootsystemsinleafyvegetablesunderinsituproductionconditions
AT tadashigeiwao combininghyperspectralimagingandatransparenthydroponicsbedtoanalyzegrowthandagedistributiondynamicsofentirerootsystemsinleafyvegetablesunderinsituproductionconditions
AT gakuyokoyama combininghyperspectralimagingandatransparenthydroponicsbedtoanalyzegrowthandagedistributiondynamicsofentirerootsystemsinleafyvegetablesunderinsituproductionconditions
AT tomoyoshihirota combininghyperspectralimagingandatransparenthydroponicsbedtoanalyzegrowthandagedistributiondynamicsofentirerootsystemsinleafyvegetablesunderinsituproductionconditions