KeyGene Opens Expanded Plant Phenotyping Facility

KeyGene expands its digital phenotyping facility, PhenoFab — a fully automated greenhouse where plant growth can be analyzed, plant traits can be measured and root development characterized.

“KeyGene has obtained the expansion needed in order to support breeders, researchers and companies with their work on future crops,” says Arjen van Tunen, KeyGene CEO. “The development of newly improved crops is boosted by this state-of-the-art technology.”

PhenoFab combines high-throughput digital plant imaging technology with trait interpretation to support breeders in the development of new crop varieties. Digital phenotyping is one of the most crucial aspects of variety development in the plant breeding and crop protection industry.

Through the expansion, PhenoFab has gone from 1,000 to 1,500 pots, and more than 400 plants per hour can be analyzed. The facility also offers innovations such as gentle plant movement on highly adaptable cars for maximum flexibility in crop species, pot size and plant treatments; integration of phenotypic data with DNA profiles; and a reporting service that offers interactive client access to all images and data analytics.