Deep learning-based association analysis of root image data and cucumber yield.

Abstract

The root system is important for the absorption of water and nutrients by plants. Cultivating and selecting a root system architecture (RSA) with good adaptability and ultrahigh productivity have become the primary goals of agricultural improvement. Exploring the correlation between the RSA and crop yield is important for cultivating crop varieties with high-stress resistance and productivity. In this study, 277 cucumber varieties were collected for root system image analysis and yield using germination plates and greenhouse cultivation. Deep learning tools were used to train ResNet50 and U-Net models for image classification and segmentation of seedlings and to perform quality inspection and productivity prediction of cucumber seedling root system images. The results showed that U-Net can automatically extract cucumber root systems with high quality (F1_score ≥ 0.95), and the trained ResNet50 can predict cucumber yield grade through seedling root system image, with the highest F1_score reaching 0.86 using 10-day-old seedlings. The root angle had the strongest correlation with yield, and the shallow- and steep-angle frequencies had significant positive and negative correlations with yield, respectively. RSA and nutrient absorption jointly affected the production capacity of cucumber plants. The germination plate planting method and automated root system segmentation model used in this study are convenient for high-throughput phenotypic (HTP) research on root systems. Moreover, using seedling root system images to predict yield grade provides a new method for rapidly breeding high-yield RSA in crops such as cucumbers.

Plant phenotyping relevance

根系画像の自動セグメンテーションと収量予測モデルを開発・評価し、高スループット表現型解析への適用を中心に扱うため。

Code and data availability

The paper reports cucumber root-image phenotyping (U-Net segmentation, ResNet50 yield-grade classification) and states that the segmentation and classification model code was uploaded to a public GitHub repository under the author's account. No public phenotype/image dataset deposit is stated in the supplied blocks.