The Phenotyping Core enables whole-plant phenotyping in controlled and field environments. These facilities, services, and self-service equipment allow for multi-parametric, non-destructive phenotyping; visualization and quantification of plant color and structural morphology; water-use efficiency analysis; large data set analysis; fluorescence and spectral images of whole plants; multi-spectral imaging for chlorophyll index, anthocyanin index, and NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index); detection and quantification of plant health/stress via Fv/Fm; and measurement of plant biomass, transpiration rates, and canopy-level stomatal conductance.

The Bellwether Foundation Phenotyping Facility is a state-of-the-art, high-tech facility is comprised of a custom controlled environment Conviron growth house, fully integrated with a LemnaTec Scanalyzer 3D imaging platform. The automated, high-throughput platform allows multi-parametric, non-destructive phenotyping of up to 1140 small to medium sized plants daily. It includes the Conviron growth house (model GH680) with approximately 680 square feet of growth area, and is custom manufactured to house a complex Bosch Rexroth moving field conveyor belt system for delivery of plants to and from the LemnaTec imaging chambers.

The PhenoVation CropReporter is a stand-alone imaging chamber that measures Photosystem II (PSII) fluorescence and spectral images of whole plants using a high-resolution camera. Fluorescence parameters are calculated per pixel and are displayed as images. Multispectral images at 6 wavelengths are captured using the same optical layout as for the fluorescence images and an optical filter wheel. This yields images of the chlorophyll index, anthocyanin index , and NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index). Detection and quantification of plant health/stress is enabled by calculation of Fv/Fm, Non-Photochemical Quenching, and other PSII parameters. All images can be quantified and analyzed with open-source image-processing platform PlantCV.

The Plant DiTech PlantArray system is a high-throughput, multi-sensor physiological phenotyping gravimetric-based platform. 40 pots are housed in two controlled growth chambers (Conviron BDW80) that allow for temperatures from 14°C to– 40°C, far-red light control, and one chamber is equipped with CO2 control. Automated, simultaneous direct measurements of plant and pot weights individually for each pot are recorded every three minutes, providing phenotypes of plant biomass, transpiration rates, canopy-level stomatal conductance, and more. Controlled, feedback-based irrigation (time, weight, soil moisture or transpiration) is controlled individually for each pot.

Phenotyping at the Danforth Center Field Research Site includes drone flights and drone and satellite image analysis. Non-destructive root imaging via minirhizotron imaging is available as full-service and as self-service camera rentals. Additional hand-held tools - such as spectrometers, soil temperature and moisture probes, etc. - are also available.