ROOT DISTAL

Hosted by University of Bologna

Where we are

The Root Phenotyping Platform at DISTAL UNIBO comprises a set of 100 rhizotrons enabling nondestructive exploration of root growth and two large flatbed A3 scanners. Each rhizotron is a box (40 x 30 x 0.5 or 1.0 cm)  wide x high x thick, respectively), with walls of acrylic sheets, one of them clear

(transparent) and one opaque (black). Rhizotrons are placed on racks with the clear wall faced-down, on a black acrylic support forming a shadowing poach, at an angle of 45° to the vertical. This angle is optimized to prompt roots to grow on to or closer to the clear window. Rhizotrons are filled with black peat-enriched substrate in order to increase the visual contrast of roots vs soil. Root development from each rhizotron can be monitored freely and digital images are collected using the flatbed A3 scanners. Root images are analysed with root dedicated softwares (eg. Rhizovision, or others) to extract most root architectural trait componenti.

Non-destructive root phenotyping in soil-filled rhizotron and support for analysis of digital root images.

Silvio SALVI

Silvio SALVI

Person in charge

Our Equipment

  • 100 Array of rhizotrons

  • 2 Flatbed A3 size scanners

Contact Us


All 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.

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.