JP2005087042A - Plant growth analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant growth analyzer with which growth information on respective plant samples can be obtained individually and at an always fixed position/angle while simultaneously cultivating a lot of plant samples in order to analyze the change in growing process taking account of long lapsed time of plants. <P>SOLUTION: This plant growth analyzer comprises a first transfer mechanism 2 for transferring a plurality of plant samples, and a second transfer mechanism 3 for transferring a piece of plant sample to a photographing position. In the analyzer, the first transferring mechanism 2 and the second transferring mechanism 3 move to the photographing position for every sample apart from the plurality of other samples; taking a picture thereof with a camera 4; and storing the obtained image data and analysis data based on the image data in a storage medium 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an analysis apparatus that captures growth information related to gene functions of plants.

  In the genetic function analysis of plants, plants with modified genes are cultivated under various environmental conditions, and the shape and color of the plants during the growth process or the time when specific events occur are measured and measured. The function of the target gene has been elucidated by comparing with an unmodified wild-type plant. For this reason, conventionally, researchers have cultivated a large number of plant samples, regularly planted in the field or greenhouse where the plant to be observed is cultivated, or suitable for observation of the cultivation container in which the object to be observed is planted And observed by photography using a visual or manual camera. Moreover, when measuring the growth condition quantitatively, a ruler, a protractor, a caliper, etc. were applied to the target site to be measured.

  As a method for automatically recording the growth status of a plant, a monitoring device based on an image using a camera has been devised. As a known example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-138041) proposes an apparatus for monitoring the quality of plant growth. Using a camera, the growth state of the seedling is captured as an image, the captured image is evaluated, and whether the growth state is good or bad is automatically determined. In Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-281493), there is an ecological observation system in which a subject to be photographed is photographed by a camera device, and each photographed image is associated with each observation result such as temperature and humidity. It has been devised. Further, Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-050996) proposes an image acquisition apparatus having means for always photographing a target object at a fixed position and angle in a time series image.

  As a method of efficiently performing processing operations necessary for cultivation while cultivating a plurality of plants, an apparatus for performing the operations while moving them using a transport mechanism has been devised. Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-95383) is a plant cultivation device that transports a plurality of plants and a culture solution on a conveyor to improve the lighting effect in a space-saving manner.

  In Patent Document 5 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-23574), a greenhouse is divided into a growth area and a work area, and a plurality of plants are moved in the greenhouse by an endless transfer device, and the plant sits in the work area. Plant factories have been devised that can carry out agricultural work such as spraying pesticides, irrigation, and sprouting.

JP-A-6-138041

JP 2002-281493 A JP 2003-050996 A JP 2001-95383 A JP 2000-23574 A

  In order to analyze the gene function from the phenotype of individual plants, varieties and breeding lines with different genetic backgrounds can be observed from several to tens of thousands of lines, and the changes in morphology at any stage of the growth process. An exhaustive analysis is required.

  However, the conventional analysis of plant growth data requires the operator to manually perform measurement and photography for each plant planted in the field or greenhouse. It took a lot of time and much labor and analysis time. For this reason, the state of the change of the form on a much shorter time scale may be overlooked compared with the growing period of several hours to several days, which is several months. Or, continuous and exhaustive analysis was impossible, such as limiting the observation items according to the labor force.

  In recent years, a method of automatically recording a growth state using a camera in an artificial cultivation environment has been performed. By overshooting with a video camera fixed in the vicinity of the plant sample, oversight and great labor that occur during visual observation can be reduced. However, in order to observe and record the growth of a large number of samples at the same time, it is necessary to install a large number of photographing devices according to the number of individuals. In addition, in order to measure growth information from the obtained image, it is necessary to capture only the plant to be photographed in the image, but the plant not to be photographed overlaps the plant to be photographed in a limited space. It is very difficult to avoid it.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and in order to analyze morphological changes in the plant growth process over a long period of time, each plant sample is individually cultivated while simultaneously cultivating a large number of plant samples. In addition, it is an object to obtain growth information at a constant position and angle at all times.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a cultivation area for cultivating a plurality of plant samples and an information area for obtaining information on the growth of plant samples are separated, and the plant sample from which information is to be obtained is A means for physically moving between the cultivation area and the information area is provided, and the growth information is acquired by moving the plant sample to the information area only when information acquisition is required. The obtained growth information or analysis data based on the information is stored in the storage means. Here, the growth information is handled as digital information and can be managed by a so-called computer such as a personal computer. The storage means for storing the growth information or analysis data based on the information is preferably a computer storage medium (for example, a hard disk). Furthermore, routine management of the growth information or data analysis of the information, movement of the plant sample for information acquisition, and growth of the plant sample can be performed by a computer program.

  In order to analyze morphological changes in the growth process of plants over a long period of time, individual plant samples can be recorded individually and always as growth information at a fixed position and angle while cultivating many plant samples simultaneously. Detailed plant growth information necessary for gene function analysis can be obtained.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a plant growth analysis apparatus using a camera is shown as means for acquiring growth information.

(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of Example 1 of the plant growth analysis apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus 1 shown in Example 1 cultivates a plurality of plant samples and includes a cultivation region 13 including a first sample moving mechanism 2 that moves the plurality of plant samples, and a predetermined of the first sample moving mechanism 2. And a second sample moving mechanism 3 that separates one individual plant sample for which growth information is to be obtained at position 9 from the plurality of other plant samples and moves them to the information region 14. The information area is provided with a camera 4 for photographing one plant sample moved to this area. A computer 5 controls the operations of the sample moving mechanisms 2 and 3 and the camera 4 according to a program provided in advance. That is, when the date and time when a certain plant sample acquires the growth information, the sample moving mechanism 2 is controlled to move the target plant sample to the predetermined position 9 and the sample moving mechanism 3 is controlled to The plant sample is moved to the information area. Next, the camera 4 is operated to photograph a plant sample that is an object to be photographed. The image data acquired by the camera 4 is stored in the storage medium 6, the acquired image data is analyzed, and the analysis data is also stored in the storage medium 6.

  In the apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, at an arbitrary time set by the computer 5, the first sample moving mechanism 2 transports the plant sample to be photographed to a predetermined position 9 in front of the camera 4. The plant sample that has reached the front position 9 of the camera 4 is moved vertically upward by the second sample moving mechanism 3. It stops when it moves up to the shooting position. When the plant sample stops at the photographing position, only the plant sample to be photographed is photographed by the camera 4, and the obtained image is taken into the computer 5 and further stored in the storage medium 6. The above operation is repeated at the time interval and the number of photographing times set by the user of the apparatus 5 and the plant growth process is continuously and automatically recorded as an image.

  Here, as a means for acquiring the growth information, a digitizer or a laser scanner for acquiring three-dimensional information may be used instead of the camera 4. In addition, a color measuring device and a temperature measuring device can be installed or used together depending on the purpose.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first sample moving mechanism 2 of the apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  The sample moving mechanism 2 has a fixed orbit 12R that goes around, and a carriage 12 connected to the orbit 12R is installed. The cultivation container 8 in which the plant sample is planted is placed on each of the connected carts 12, and the plant sample is circulated every time determined by the control of the computer 5. At this time, under the control of the computer 5, the plant sample is watered and sunshine is managed so as to satisfy the predetermined growth conditions. However, the growth of the plant sample in this cultivation area is not the subject of the present invention. Description is omitted. In the practice of the present invention, it is convenient to use a regular container that does not allow water or soil to escape from the bottom.

  The wheels attached to the connected carriage 12 on the fixed orbit 12R can smoothly move on the orbit 12R of the sample moving mechanism 2 by changing the direction freely. The trolleys 12 are connected to each other by the connecting bracket 10 having the same length, and the ends of the trolleys 12 connected to each other are connected to each other in a ring shape and installed on the track 12R that is the sample moving mechanism 2. When the sample moves along the track, the positional relationship between the adjacent carts 12 changes, so that the angle of the attachment portion of the connecting fitting 10 to the cart 12 is freely changed.

  At a predetermined location on the track 12R of the connected carriage 12, a cylinder 11 for moving the connected carriage 12 by the width of one carriage is provided under the track 12R. In FIG. 2, the area | region which attached | subjected the dot was shown by the meaning which shows this cylinder 11. In FIG. The connected cart 12 is moved on the track 12R by the cylinder 11 by the width of one cart. In FIG. 2, 4 indicates the camera in FIG. 1, and 9 indicates the front position.

  3A and 3B are side sectional views for explaining the operation of the cylinder 11 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the cylinder 11 is provided with an extendable arm 11A, and when the movement of the carriage 12 is instructed at the initial position, the extension arm 11A is extended to a predetermined position of the carriage 12 immediately above. For example, it connects with the opening 12H in the center. Next, in a state where the telescopic arm 11A is connected to the opening 12H of the carriage 12, the telescopic arm 11A is moved by the width of one carriage as indicated by the white arrow. As a result, all the carriages on the track 12R move in the direction of the arrow by the width of one carriage and stop. Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the telescopic arm 11A connected to the cart 12 is contracted to release the connection between the cart 12 and the telescopic arm 11A, and the telescopic arm 11A is contracted while the telescopic arm 11A is contracted. Return to the initial position shown in FIG. This operation may be repeated every time the movement of the carriage 12 is required. Accordingly, the carriage 12 is intermittently moved in the size of one carriage. All this control may be sequence control by the computer 5. The cylinder 11 may be driven by a motor.

  4A and 4B are side cross-sectional views of an embodiment of the second sample moving mechanism 3 of the apparatus of the first embodiment. The sample moving mechanism 3 moves only one plant sample vertically upward at a predetermined position 9 on the trajectory 12R of the sample moving mechanism 2 to the photographing position by the camera 4 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4A, a slider 16 having an extendable arm 17 is provided under a track 12R at a predetermined position 9. In the initial position, the telescopic arm 17 stands by at a position where it does not contact the lower surface of the carriage 12 as shown in the figure. In addition, it is assumed that the plant sample to be photographed has a length sufficient to obtain a height sufficient to be photographed separately from other plant samples. As shown in FIG. 4B, the telescopic arm 17 pushes up the cultivation container 8 to be photographed as it is extended vertically upward by the slider 16 through the opening 12H of the carriage 12. Ascent is stopped when the shooting position is reached. The telescopic arm 17 is returned to the initial position shown in FIG. 4A after the photographing of the plant sample to be photographed is completed. All this control may be sequence control by the computer 5.

  In the first embodiment, the central opening 12H of the carriage 12 is used to move the carriage using the telescopic arm 11A as described with reference to FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). It is also used to move the plant sample vertically upward by the telescopic arm 17. Therefore, the size is taken into consideration. The cart 12 and the telescopic arm 11A can be engaged with each other by using an appropriate protrusion on the bottom surface of the cart 12 to engage the telescopic arm 11A instead of using the opening 12H of the cart 12. good. Even in this case, since the central opening 12H of the carriage 12 is used to move the plant sample vertically upward by the telescopic arm 17, the size is taken into consideration.

  According to the apparatus described in the first embodiment, it is possible to collect data on plant samples in a predetermined growing state at a predetermined time under the control of the computer 5.

(Example 2)
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of Example 2 of the plant growth analysis apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus 1 shown in the second embodiment is different from the apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment in that the first sample moving mechanism 2 is an XY stage in place of the trajectory 12R that circulates a plurality of plant samples. In the point where the cultivation area 13 for cultivating a plurality of plant samples and the information area 14 for obtaining information on the plant samples by photographing one of the plurality of plant samples are arranged vertically, This is the same as the apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment.

  A plurality of plant samples in the cultivation region 13 are arranged on the XY stage 15 at a predetermined interval. The XY stage 15 can freely move in the XY direction in the cultivation area 13. However, this movement is intermittently moved in the size of the occupied area unit of one plant sample, similarly to the movement of the carriage 12 of the first embodiment. Therefore, no matter how it is moved, when it is stopped, the plant sample is always on the telescopic arm 17 just like the device 1 shown in the first embodiment. Photographing is performed with only one individual plant sample on the XY stage moved vertically upward. In the apparatus 1 shown in Example 2, since a plurality of plant samples are arranged on an XY stage, and the XY stage can be moved to an arbitrary position, the camera 4 is suspended from the ceiling. It was. At an arbitrary time set by the computer 5, the plant sample on the XY stage 15 is moved to a predetermined position in the cultivation region 13 by moving the XY stage 15 in the XY direction, where the second sample is moved to the second position. The sample is moved up to a position corresponding to the camera 4 by the sample moving mechanism 3 and photographed.

  The second sample moving mechanism 3 of the apparatus 1 shown in the second embodiment is also replaced with the slider 16 provided with the telescopic arm 17 similarly to that of the apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). It ’s fine. For this purpose, the telescopic arm 17 is also provided on the XY stage 15 at a location corresponding to the mounting position of the plant sample, in the same manner as the opening 12H is provided in the carriage 12 in the apparatus 1 shown in the first embodiment. It is necessary to have an appropriate opening 15H for passing through.

(Example 3)
In the first and second embodiments, the movement of the plant sample to the corresponding position in relation to the camera 4 has been described. However, the management of the rotation angle of the plant sample was not mentioned.

  6, 7 and 8 illustrate a device for managing the rotation angle of the plant sample. In order to manage the rotation angle of the plant sample, the cultivation container 8 supported by the slider 17 of the second sample moving mechanism 3 has a predetermined angle with respect to the slider 17 and the slider 17. A means for controlling the rotation is required.

6 illustrates the adapter plate 18 attached to the bottom of the cultivation container 8, FIG. 6 (A) is a plan view, FIG. 6 (B) is a sectional view, and FIG. 6 (C) is a bottom view. The cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 6B is a cross-section viewed in the arrow direction at the position AA in the plan view illustrated in FIG. Bottom 18 _first adapter plate 18 for receiving the planting container 8, the peripheral projections 18 ₂ to prevent lateral displacement of the cultivation vessel 8, the adapter plate 18 (hence, the cultivation vessel 8) an opening 18 ₃ and cultivation vessel 8 for the rotation of the an opening 18 ₄ to determine both the relative angle when placed on the adapter plate 18. Note that the bottom surface of the culture vessel 8, although not shown provided projections corresponding to the opening 18 _4. The relative angle of the cultivation vessel 8 and adapter plate 18 instead of the opening 18 ₄ may both with the aspects of the peripheral projecting portion 18 ₂ of the inner surface and the cultivation container 8 as having a structure for a predetermined one . Alternatively, the small holes corresponding to the openings 18 ₄ to the bottom of the growing container 8 may be provided provided with a projection in place of the opening 18 ₄ The adapter plate 18. The opening 18 ₄ to determine the relative angle therebetween may be omitted. This is because the placed position can be held by the friction between the two, and it is only necessary to put it in consideration of the relative position. The spacing of the openings 18 _3, between the outer surfaces of both openings 18 ₃ are assumed to be smaller than the diameter of the opening 12H.

Furthermore, answering position of the slider 17 on a surface opposite to the surface receiving the cultivating container 8 of the adapter plate 18, i.e., the projection 18 ₅ for the center position so as to correspond to the center position of the slider 17 of the cultivation vessel 8 and projections 18 ₆ the adapter plate 18 to guide so as to be placed in the correct position on the carriage 12 or X-Y stage 15 is provided. For this reason, although not shown here, a small hole is required on the upper surface of the carriage 12 or the XY stage 15 for receiving it (see FIG. 7B). The relationship between the eyelet projections 18 ₆ Toko reversed, the projections 18 ₆ on the upper surface of the carriage 12 or X-Y stage 15 may be as provided small holes in the adapter plate 18. The size of the projection 18 _5, and is sufficiently smaller than the opening 12H or 15H, spacing projections 18 ₆ is required to be larger than the diameter of the opening 12H or 15H.

FIG. 7 illustrates the relationship between the carriage 12 and the state where the adapter plate 18 is attached to the bottom of the cultivation container 8. FIG. 7 (A) is a side view showing the adapter plate 18 in cross section, and FIG. 7 (B). Is a cross-sectional view of the carriage 12, and FIG. 7C is a plan view of the carriage 12. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 7B is a cross-section as seen in the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 at the center position of the carriage 12. As shown in FIG. 7 (A), placing the culture vessel 8 on the bottom surface 18 ₁ of the adapter plate 18. At this time, projection and corresponding to the bottom opening 18 ₄ of the opening 18 ₄ and cultivation vessel 8 of the adapter plate 18 defines a relative position therebetween.

FIG. 7 (B), the (C), the small hole 12S is provided on the carriage 12, which is a protrusion 18 ₆ provided on the opposite surface of the bottom 18 ₁ for placing a cultivation vessel 8 of the adapter plate 18 It corresponds. Therefore, if the cultivation container 8 is placed on the carriage 12 so that they coincide, the relative positional relationship between the cultivation container 8 and the carriage 12 becomes predetermined. 12H is the opening of the carriage 12 described with reference to FIGS. Although the XY stage 15 has not been described here, the positional relationship can be similarly determined by replacing the carriage 12 with the XY stage 15.

FIG. 8 shows a telescopic arm 17 of the second sample moving mechanism 3 that moves one of the cultivation containers 8 placed on the carriage 12 to an information area separated from a plurality of plant samples by the second sample moving mechanism 3. It is sectional drawing explaining more specifically the state devised so that the slider 16 respond | corresponds to rotation control. A positioning base 19 is attached to the upper end surface of the telescopic arm 17. Positioning base 19 has an opening 19 ₃ in the central portion of the main body 19 _1, provided with a projection 19 ₂ on both sides. Opening 19 ₃ correspond to the projections 18 ₅ provided on the opposite surface of the bottom 18 ₁ for placing a cultivation vessel 8 of the adapter plate 18. The _two sides of the projections 19 corresponds with the two openings 18 ₃ provided on the opposite surface of the bottom 18 ₁ for placing a cultivation vessel 8 of the adapter plate 18.

In FIG. 8, for convenience of explanation of the figure, the adapter plate 18 on which the cultivation container 8 is placed and the positioning base 19 are shown separately. However, as shown in FIG. ing. In the initial position, if the positioning base 19 waiting in a position not contacting the lower surface of the carriage 12 is pushed up by the telescopic arm 17, the adapter plate 18 of the cultivation container 8 that is correctly placed on the carriage 12 becomes the position of the positioning base 19. opening 19 ₃ and interdigitated projections 18 ₅ of the adapter plate 18, in a state _{where 2} both sides of the projection 19 is each other fitted with two openings 18 ₃ of the adapter plate 18, it is pushed up as shown in FIG. 4 (B). In FIG. 8, a rotary stage 23 for controlling the rotation of the telescopic arm 17 is installed. Therefore, if the rotation of the telescopic arm 17 is controlled by the rotation stage 23, the cultivation container 8 can take any direction with respect to the camera. Center of rotation of this time is the projection 18 ₅ of the adapter plate 18 are each other fit into the opening 19 the _third positioning base 19. Although the XY stage 15 has not been described here, the positional relationship can be determined similarly by replacing the carriage 12 with the XY stage 15.

  Needless to say, since the relationship between the protrusion and the opening or the small hole described in the third embodiment is relative, it may be reversed.

Example 4
FIG. 9: is a figure which shows the schematic perspective view of Example 4 of the plant growth analysis apparatus of this invention. The apparatus 1 shown in Example 4 is the apparatus 1 shown in Example 1 in that the first sample moving mechanism 2 in the cultivation region 13 where the plurality of plant samples are cultivated is based on the trajectory 12R around the plurality of plant samples. Is the same. However, a second sample moving mechanism 3 is provided adjacent to the first sample moving mechanism 2 for moving to an information area 14 for acquiring information on plant samples by photographing a plurality of individual plant samples. It differs from the apparatus 1 shown in Example 1 in that it is based on a circular orbit.

  In FIG. 9, the first sample moving mechanism 2 may be the carriage 12 and the orbit 12R as described in the first embodiment. The second sample moving mechanism 3 may also be a small scale because it is constituted by the carriage 12 and the orbit 12R described in the first embodiment. However, a place to be a contact point between the first sample moving mechanism 2 and the second sample moving mechanism 3, that is, a robot for moving the plant sample from the cultivation region 13 to the second sample moving mechanism 3 is required. . Here, the arm 33 and the control box 34 are shown. That is, when the plant sample placed on the carriage 12 of the first sample moving mechanism 2 comes to the predetermined position 9, it is lifted by the arm 33 and rotated to rotate the plant sample on the carriage of the second sample moving mechanism 3. It is sufficient to place a plant sample on the surface. This control may be sequence control by the computer 5. The second sample moving mechanism 3 may be a linear track in which the carriage on the sample moving mechanism 3 reciprocates between a position adjacent to the predetermined position 9 and the information area 14 with a cylinder or the like.

  As described in the third embodiment, considering the rotation of the plant sample in the information area 14, the carriage of the second sample moving mechanism 3 is different from the first embodiment and includes a rotating rotor having a small hole 12S. Good to do. That is, on the carriage 12 of the first sample moving mechanism 2, as described with reference to FIGS. 6-8, a certain state can be maintained with respect to the carriage 12, and the second sample moving mechanism 3. After being transferred to the cart, as in the first embodiment, the small hole 12S can maintain a constant state with respect to the cart, and the rotation rotor having the small hole 12S is controlled to rotate as shown in FIG. It is good to do.

(Example 5)
FIGS. 10A and 10B are photographs of a plurality of plant samples from the first sample moving mechanism 2 in the cultivation region 13 of the plurality of plant samples of Example 5 of the plant growth analysis apparatus of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the outline of only the part of the 2nd sample moving mechanism 3 which performs and moves to the information area | region 14 which acquires the information of a plant sample. FIG. 10A is an example in which the cultivation container 8 is gripped by the robot arm 33 and the control box 34 similar to those shown in the fourth embodiment, and is moved horizontally or lifted to move to the information area 14. ) Is an example in which the cultivation container 8 is grasped by the robot arm 33 and the control box 34 similar to those shown in the fourth embodiment, is lifted and rotated, and is moved to the information area 14.

  Also in this example, it is preferable to move the plant sample at the specific position 9 of the first sample moving mechanism 2. A position sensor is attached to the robot arm 33 in order to control with the computer 5 and to maintain position accuracy.

(Other examples)
The information area 14 can include not only photographing of a plant sample but also means for cutting and sampling a part of the plant body. An overview of the means for this and the analysis of the sampled plant is shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, a label 81 shown on the side surface of the cultivation container 8 is for displaying a code number for specifying a plant sample. The leaves are cut out by the robot arm 27 equipped with a sensor for recognizing the position of the leaves to be sampled. The cut leaves are crushed and purified by removing unnecessary tissue using a column to extract components such as proteins and metabolites. By analyzing this with electrophoresis or a mass spectrometer, it is possible to know the composition and amount of components in the plant when the image is taken.

  The captured image is captured by the computer 5, organized as image data for each sample, and recorded in the storage medium 6. Further, the growth characteristics are measured based on the image data, converted into a numerical value and a graph as shown in FIG. 12, and the image data is stored in the storage medium 6 together with the growth characteristic data. The stored image data and growth characteristic data can be linked to each other so that each sample can be referred to each other. Each plant sample data should be indexed so that they can be easily compared with each other.

In FIG. 12, as an example of measuring growth characteristics from an image, plant height measurement is shown. The captured image is displayed on a computer monitor, the coordinates of the plant base (a ₁ , b ₁ ) and the leaf tips (a ₂ , b ₂ ) on the image are read, and the number of pixels in the y-axis direction c = b ₂ −b ₁ is calculated. Also, in advance, a camera with a known length was photographed with a camera used to photograph the plant, and the number of pixels in the y-axis direction was calculated from the coordinates on the image in the same manner as described above, and 1 pixel was the actual length of Xmm. Is calculated. From this, the plant height H of an actual plant can be converted as H = c × X (mm). By performing this operation on any leaf of all images, it is possible to graph the change in plant height.

  Each plant sample is identified by attaching a label to the cultivation container 8 or the adapter plate 18 and reading it by a sensor. A cultivation container 8 or a carriage 12 serving as an origin is determined among a plurality of plant samples, and the label is detected by the sensor as sample 1. When photographing, the sensor detects this label and always starts photographing from this sample, so that the adjacent samples can be sample 2, 3, 4. Moreover, the barcode which described the identification number on each cultivation container 8 or the adapter board 18 may be affixed, and you may make it recognize with a sensor for every imaging | photography.

  If necessary, the plant sample of the present invention may be provided with a transparent protective cover 28 for each sample. When the sample is on the sample moving mechanism 2, the plant sample 7 is contained in the protective cover 28, and when the plant sample 7 is placed at the photographing position, it is removed so as not to disturb the photographing. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a transparent material cylinder 28 is fixed to the carriage 12 of the sample moving mechanism 2. The plant sample 7 is always covered with the protective cover 28 on the sample moving mechanism 2. A portion of the ceiling plate of the cylinder 28 is configured to be openable and closable. For example, a switch is provided on the upper surface of the carriage 12, and as shown in FIG. 4B, when the cultivation container 8 is lifted by the telescopic arm 17, this switch is turned on and the ceiling board is opened. It ’s fine. When the information acquisition is completed and the cultivation container 8 returns to the upper surface of the carriage 12, the switch is turned off and the ceiling board is closed again. Thereby, it can avoid that a plant body contacts and the plant body hurts at the time of conveyance of the plant sample 7, and a part of plant body which is not to be imaged enters the imaging region. The ceiling plate of the protective cover 28 may be omitted. A water supply port 29 is attached to the protective cover 28 so that water can be supplied with the protective cover 28 attached. At the time of water supply, a nozzle is inserted into the water supply port 29 and water is supplied therefrom.

  The cultivation area 13 of the apparatus 1 of the present invention is installed in an artificial weather device capable of adjusting temperature, humidity, illuminance, and illumination time. By adjusting temperature, humidity, illuminance, and lighting time, various cultivation environments are set, and the influence of the cultivation environment on growth is analyzed. Further, the photographing of the plant sample is performed in the information area, and since the illuminance can be kept constant during photographing in this area, a stable image that is not affected by the photographing environment can be obtained.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the sample moving mechanism 3 can be set at a plurality of locations on the trajectory of the sample moving mechanism 2. By setting a plurality of locations, it is possible to increase the number of places where photographing can be performed and shorten the photographing time interval. Also, by installing cameras with different shooting distances and shooting angles depending on the shooting location, various different information can be acquired. Further, it is preferable that photographing is performed by the camera 4 at predetermined time intervals as sequence control by the computer 5. The plant sample 7 is returned to the original trajectory by the sample moving mechanism 3 after photographing. Information regarding which plant sample 7 is to be photographed and what schedule can be collected by scheduling the computer 5 without bothering humans.

It is a figure which shows the outline of Example 1 of the plant growth analysis apparatus of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first sample moving mechanism 2 of the apparatus according to the first embodiment. (A), (B) is a figure which shows the sectional side view explaining operation | movement of the cylinder 11 shown in FIG. (A), (B) is a figure which shows the sectional side view of one Embodiment of the 2nd sample movement mechanism 3 of the apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the schematic perspective view of Example 2 of the plant growth analysis apparatus of this invention. The adapter board 18 attached to the bottom part of the cultivation container 8 is demonstrated, (A) is a top view, (B) is sectional drawing, (C) is a figure which shows a bottom view, The cross section shown to (B) The figure is a cross section seen in the direction of the arrow at the position AA in the plan view shown in FIG. It explains the relationship between the state where the adapter plate 18 is attached to the bottom of the cultivation container 8 and the carriage 12, (A) is a side view showing the adapter plate 18 in cross section, (B) is a sectional view of the carriage 12, (C) shows a plan view of the carriage 12. The cross-sectional view shown in (B) is a cross-section viewed in the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 at the center position of the carriage 12. The telescopic arm 17 and the slider 16 of the second sample moving mechanism 3 for moving one of the cultivation containers 8 placed on the carriage 12 to the information area separated from the plurality of plant samples by the second sample moving mechanism 3 are moved. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for more specifically explaining a state devised to correspond to rotation control. It is a figure which shows the schematic perspective view of Example 4 of the plant growth analysis apparatus of this invention. (A) is a top view which shows the example which grasps the cultivation container 8 with the robot arm 33 and the control box 34 similar to those shown in Example 4, and moves or moves it to the information area 14 horizontally (B ) Is a plan view showing an example in which the cultivation container 8 is gripped by the robot arm 33 and the control box 34 similar to those shown in the fourth embodiment, lifted and rotated, and moved to the information area 14. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the analysis of the means which cuts and samples a part of plant body with which the information area | region 14 is equipped, and the sampled plant body. It is a figure which shows the plant height measurement example of the plant as an example of the measurement of the growth characteristic from an image. It is a figure which shows the example of the trolley | bogie 12 provided with the protective cover when attaching a transparent protective cover for every plant sample.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Plant growth analysis apparatus, 2 ... 1st moving mechanism, 3 ... 2nd moving mechanism, 4 ... Camera, 5 ... Computer, 6 ... Storage medium, 7 ... Plant sample, 8 ... Cultivation container, 9 ... 1st Specific position on the moving mechanism, 10 ... coupling bracket, 11 ... cylinder, 11A ... telescopic arm, 12 ... bogie, 12R ... circular track, 12H ... opening, 13 ... cultivation area, 14 ... information area, 15 ... XY Stage 16, slider 17, telescopic arm 18, adapter plate 19, positioning base 23, automatic rotation stage 33, robot arm 34, control box 27, sampling robot arm 28, protective cover 29 ... the water inlet.

Claims (10)

A cultivation area for planting and cultivating a plurality of plant samples in independent cultivation containers,
An information area for obtaining information on the growth of the plant sample;
A first sample moving mechanism for physically moving a plurality of plant samples for each cultivation container within the cultivation region;
A second sample moving mechanism for moving one of the plurality of plant samples between the cultivation area and the information area;
Information acquisition means for acquiring growth information of the plant sample moved to the information area;
A computer for predetermined sequential control of each of the moving mechanisms and the information acquisition means;
The computer includes a storage unit for storing the obtained growth information or analysis data based on the obtained growth information.   The second sample moving mechanism that moves one plant sample among the plant samples between the cultivation region and the information region is a first sample that physically moves a plurality of plant samples within the cultivation region. The plant growth analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one plant sample is moved at a specific position of the sample moving mechanism.   The first sample moving mechanism for physically moving a plurality of plant samples in the cultivation area has a circular track connected to a carriage, and the carriage is intermittently moved in the size of one carriage. The plant growth analysis apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The first sample moving mechanism that physically moves a plurality of plant samples in the cultivation area is on an XY stage that moves on an XY plane, and the XY stage occupies an area occupied by one plant sample. The plant growth analysis apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plant is intermittently moved in a unit size.   A second sample moving mechanism that moves one of the plurality of plant samples between the cultivation area and the information area is a first that physically moves the plurality of plant samples within the cultivation area. The plant growth analysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plant sample is moved in a vertical direction with respect to a sample moving mechanism.   A second sample moving mechanism that moves one of the plurality of plant samples between the cultivation area and the information area is a first that physically moves the plurality of plant samples within the cultivation area. The plant sample is moved horizontally with respect to the sample moving mechanism, and further includes a robot that physically moves the plant sample between the two moving mechanisms, and the computer also sequentially controls the robot. The plant growth analysis apparatus in any one of 1-4. An adapter plate attached to the bottom surface of the cultivation container for cultivating the plant sample with a predetermined relationship with the cultivation container,
A surface of the adapter plate that does not come into contact with the bottom surface of the cultivation container has a protrusion, an opening, or a small hole for maintaining a relative relationship between the adapter plate and means for physically moving the plurality of plant samples. The plant growth analysis apparatus in any one of Claim 1 to 6.   The adapter plate has a protrusion, an opening, or a small hole at a position corresponding to the rotation center of the cultivation container at the center portion of the surface that does not come into contact with the bottom surface of the cultivation container. The plant growth analysis device according to claim 7, wherein the plant growth analysis device has a protrusion, an opening, or a small hole for acting.   A second sample moving mechanism for moving one of the plurality of plant samples between the cultivation region and the information region, the telescopic rod for moving the plant sample in a vertical direction; In the center of the surface of the adapter plate that does not come into contact with the bottom surface of the cultivation container, a projection or an opening or a small hole provided at a position corresponding to the rotation center of the cultivation container and the adapter around the adapter The plant growth analysis apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a protrusion, an opening, or a small hole that engages with a protrusion, an opening, or a small hole for applying a rotational force to the plate.   The plurality of plant samples are transparent protective covers provided in a first sample moving mechanism that physically moves the plurality of plant samples for each cultivation container within the cultivation area, and each plant is surrounded around the plant body. The plant growth analysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which covers the plant growth analysis apparatus.

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