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

Abstract

A non-destructive real-time plant root imaging and analysis system to detect gall-forming plant-parasitic nematodes is disclosed. The system includes a root imaging device based on a minirhizotron concept with customizations and additions such that it can be inserted into the soil in the vicinity of a plant root and subsequently take images of the plant root system at multiple positions and angles. The device includes a movable base equipped with a high-resolution digital camera module integrated into the transparent tube of a minirhizotron, allowing images of the host plant root at different depths to be taken when the base travels within the transparent tube. A set of image processing algorithms are developed and integrated into a custom-designed graphic user interface (GUI) to analyze and detect these nematodes' presence automatically. The algorithms may stitch the images taken to obtain a panoramic view of the entire plant root system.