Phen-Italy
The Italian Plant Phenotyping Network. Facilities to study the interaction between the genotype, the environment, and the management
The Italian Node of EMPHASIS
Partners Involved
Collaborations
MICROBES-4-CLIMATE
Offer researchers from diverse backgrounds convenient access to a range of top-tier Research Infrastructures and their advanced services. This access will empower them to engage in interdisciplinary, curiosity-driven research focused on terrestrial biodiversity and...
AGROSERV
Integrated SERvices supporting a sustainable AGROecological transition AgroServ, funded by the EU under Horizon Europe (2022-27), supports agricultural research and innovation to tackle complex challenges like feeding a growing population sustainably, combating...
Latest Pubblications
Pace et al 2026, Physiologia Plantarum, Machine Learning Approaches to Assess Soil Microbiome Dynamics and Bio-Sustainability
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Gargiulo et al 2025,Horticulture Research, Volatile organic compounds in Solanum lycopersicum leaves and their roles in plant protection
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Montanaro et al 2025, Plant Stress, Are leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and Dark Green stressor-specific fingerprints in grapevine under drought or salt stress? A reanalysis study
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Monatanaro et al 2023,Plant Phenomics, Phenotyping Key Fruit Quality Traits in Olive Using RGB Images and Back Propagation Neural Networks
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Harfouche et al 2023, Trends in Plant Science, A primer on artificial intelligence in plant digital phenomics: embarking on the data to insights journey
[link]
Pace et al 2026, Physiologia Plantarum, Machine Learning Approaches to Assess Soil Microbiome Dynamics and Bio-Sustainability
[link]
Gargiulo et al 2025,Horticulture Research, Volatile organic compounds in Solanum lycopersicum leaves and their roles in plant protection
[link]
Montanaro et al 2025, Plant Stress, Are leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and Dark Green stressor-specific fingerprints in grapevine under drought or salt stress? A reanalysis study
[link]
Monatanaro et al 2023,Plant Phenomics, Phenotyping Key Fruit Quality Traits in Olive Using RGB Images and Back Propagation Neural Networks
[link]
Harfouche et al 2023, Trends in Plant Science, A primer on artificial intelligence in plant digital phenomics: embarking on the data to insights journey
[link]
Our Services
Plant Phenotyping Services
Our infrastructures provide state-of-the-art plant phenotyping capabilities to efficiently characterize growth, morphology, and physiological traits across species and systems, enabling high-quality, reproducible data for research and breeding programs.
Field-Based Phenotyping
Our infrastructures enable comprehensive field-based phenotyping, allowing precise monitoring of plant performance under natural agricultural conditions to support breeding, stress tolerance assessment, and crop improvement studies.
Controlled-Environment Phenotyping
Our infrastructures offer controlled-environment facilities, including greenhouses and growth chambers, to study plant responses under precisely managed conditions, supporting reproducible experiments and detailed physiological analyses.
Stress and Input Response Assessment
Our infrastructures facilitate the assessment of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as the testing of fertilizers, biostimulants, and agrochemicals, providing robust data for crop improvement and agro-product validation.
Sensing, Imaging and Data Acquisition
Our infrastructures are equipped with advanced imaging and sensing systems, including UAVs, multispectral cameras, and automated platforms, allowing rapid acquisition of high-resolution phenotypic data for precise analysis.
Data Processing, Analysis and Infrastructure Access
Our infrastructures provide comprehensive support for data processing, trait extraction, statistical analysis, reporting, and user access, ensuring that large datasets are transformed into actionable insights for research and development.
Our Infrastructures
PhenBiotech
PhenBiotech is an automated Phenospex phenotyping platform installed in a climate-controlled greenhouse with regulated photoperiod lighting. The facility includes four benches and eight scanning blocks, enabling high-precision, automated plant phenotyping under controlled environmental conditions.
PhenoPlant
PhenoPlant is an automated phenotyping platform with 216 potted stations that continuously measures plant weight, controls irrigation, and regulates environmental conditions. Using multispectral imaging from a gantry system, it extracts structural and functional traits to study growth, stress responses, genotype performance, and plant adaptation.
PHENORAMA
PHENORAMA is an image-based plant phenotyping infrastructure integrating 2D/3D imaging, automated analysis, and advanced crop models such as Olive Model, UNIFI.GrapeM, and GrassVistock. With greenhouse rail platforms and field rovers, it delivers high-resolution trait extraction to support stress studies, varietal selection, and precision agriculture.
ROOT DISTAL
The Root Phenotyping Platform at DISTAL UNIBO features 100 rhizotrons and A3 scanners for non-destructive root analysis. Plants grow in angled acrylic chambers to enhance root visibility, allowing digital imaging and software-based extraction of architectural root traits for research and breeding applications.
FIELDPHEN
FieldPhen at CREA-CI Foggia is a high-throughput field phenotyping platform for cereals. Using multispectral, hyperspectral, RGB, and thermal drones, it supports breeding and genotype selection for yield, stress tolerance, and resistance, and conducts field trials to test agrochemical and biological products.
DEMETRIS HUB
DEMETRIS HUB offers advanced digital agriculture and high-throughput phenotyping platforms in Metaponto and Sesto Fiorentino. Equipped with rovers, gantry systems, growth chambers, and drones with RGB, thermal, multispectral, hyperspectral, fluorescence sensors, and LiDAR, they enable automated plant analysis in field and controlled conditions.
INFRA-VOL
INFRA VOL is a unique Italian plant phenotyping infrastructure specialized in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Equipped with advanced growth chambers, PTR-TOF-MS, VOCUS-GC-MS, and GC-MS systems, it delivers high-throughput volatilome analysis, experimental design, data processing, and reporting services for sustainable agriculture research.
PHENOLAB 4.0
PHENOLAB integrates greenhouse and open-field phenotyping platforms, including Scanalyzer 3D, PlantEye gantry systems, and field lysimeters. It provides automated imaging, evapotranspiration monitoring, and stress analysis services for genotype comparison and biostimulant testing, delivering full experimental design, management, and reporting support.
AGRIPHEN
AGRIPHEN is an advanced plant phenotyping platform by Agrigeos that delivers high-precision crop analysis services. It measures growth, water use, stress responses, roots, and canopy traits using sensors, imaging, and modeling, supporting research, product testing, and agricultural innovation today.