High sensitivity bioluminescence imaging for plant applications

The PhenoAIxpert ES is an advanced imaging solution for detection of bioluminescence effects. Bioluminescence is a widely used reporter for gene activity, molecular interactions, or plant-microbe interactions. Imaging of bioluminescence enables time- and space-resolved monitoring of presence, intensity, and localization of luminescence signals in the sample material. The bioluminescence imaging sensor is combined with high-resolution RGB imaging for standard phenotypic assessments of the analyzed plant material. Images from both sensor systems can be superimposed, thus allowing the analysis of bioluminescence in combination with classical phenotyping. The PhenoAIxpert ES has a high-sensitivity high-resolution imaging sensor with a deep-cooled vacuum CCD sensor. Being one of the most sensitive CCD cameras in the world, the system provides optimized photon collection properties and allows for precise recording of weakest light emissions. The camera is dedicated for long exposure times. The second camera mounted in the PhenoAIxpert ES is a >12 MPixel RGB industrial grade camera combined with optics and LED illumination optimized for top-view phenotyping of the plant material.

Applications

  • Reliable luminescence imaging combined with phenotyping
  • Genetic reporters
  • Luminescence-labelled metabolites
  • Luminescence-labelled microbes
  • For any (luminescent) sample that fits into the field of view of the cameras, e.g.:
    • Single Plants in pots
    • Small trays or multi-pot pallets with seedlings
    • Microtiter plates or Petri-dishes, e.g. with leaf disks, seeds, fungi, insects, cell and tissue cultures
    • Beakers, e.g. for duckweed
    • Plant parts, e.g. leaves, roots, fruits, blossoms

Features

  • Reliable technology, advanced image processing
  • Industrial-grade precision sensors
  • Image acquisition, storage, and analysis
  • Image processing algorithms, optional machine learning
  • Metadata, annotation, and analysis directly linked to images
  • Structured image file administration system
  • Easy export of images and data
  • Intuitive graphical user interface
  • Reproducible and standardizable through unified image and information storage, and analyses
  • Application-oriented analytical workflows
  • Phenotypic data include count, size, morphology, and color
  • Customized phenotyping with artificial intelligence
  • 4 Megapixel industrial-grade enhanced sensitivity imaging sensor with active cooling
  • 12 Megapixel industrial RGB camera
  • Integrated long lifetime LED-illumination for phenotyping applications
  • Robust floor-stand imaging cabinet for perfect light shielding
  • Sample height up to 20 cm
Example pictures of Arabidopsis plants transformed with 35S-Luciferase construct for ubiquitious expression an all plant cell types. Left image: 6-7 weeks old rosettes, right image: young seedling in four leaf stage. One hour before image acquisition plants were sprayed with Luciferin/DMSO mixture. Image acquisition was performed using the high sensitivity CCD camera and 10 minutes exposure time. Scale bar is 1 cm.