4DRoot: Root phenotyping software for temporal 3D scans by X-ray computed tomography

Abstract

Currently, plant phenomics is considered the key to reducing the genotype-to-phenotype knowledge gap in plant breeding. In this context, breakthrough imaging technologies have demonstrated high accuracy and reliability. The X-ray computed tomography (CT) technology can noninvasively scan roots in 3D; however, it is urgently required to implement high-throughput phenotyping procedures and analyses to increase the amount of data to measure more complex root phenotypic traits. We have developed a spatial-temporal root architectural modeling software tool based on 4D data from temporal X-ray CT scans. Through a cylinder fitting, we automatically extract significant root architectural traits, distribution, and hierarchy. The open-source software tool is named 4DRoot and implemented in MATLAB. The source code is freely available at https://github.com/TIDOP-USAL/4DRoot. In this research, 3D root scans from the black walnut tree were analyzed, a punctual scan for the spatial study and a weekly time-slot series for the temporal one. 4DRoot provides breeders and root biologists an objective and useful tool to quantify carbon sequestration throw trait extraction. In addition, 4DRoot could help plant breeders to improve plants to meet the food, fuel, and fiber demands in the future, in order to increase crop yield while reducing farming inputs.

Plant phenotyping relevance

X線CTの時系列3D画像から根系形態形質を自動抽出するソフトウェア開発が研究の中心であり、植物フェノタイピング手法に該当する。

Code and data availability

The paper's authors explicitly state that the 4DRoot source code (the software performing the root phenotyping analysis) is freely available on GitHub. The X-ray CT scan data themselves are not deposited in a public repository; only the code is. TreeQSM is a cited prior-work dependency, not a paper-specific asset.