Advances in Non-destructive Measurement and 3D Visualization Methods for Plant Root Based on Machine Vision

Root is an important plant organ for nutrient and water uptake from the surrounding medium such as soil. Due to its special growing environment and structural complexity, it is more difficult to quantify plant root than its shoot. Observation and measurement of plant root in situ have been the technical bottleneck to understand root systems. Available methods used to observe root system were reviewed firstly in the presentation. And the recent progress in the methods of observation and measurement for 3D architecture of plant root in situ was summed up. Then according to the development of relevant technologies and the requirement of research on root architecture, the prospect of 3D visualization and observation methods for plant root in situ was discussed.