Cutting-Edge Automation in Plant Cultivation 

Introduction

Innovations in agriculture depend on accurate, high-throughput data collection and analysis. Laboratory automation has become an essential component, empowering researchers to conduct large-scale experiments with improved efficiency and precision. From genomic analysis to plant tissue testing, automation enhances workflows, reduces human error, and accelerates the development of enhanced crop varieties and sustainable farming practices. This application note presents an integrated automated PlateButler solution for groundbreaking early weed control screening by cultivating and monitoring plants with specific compounds in a controlled environment.The custom-developed automated platform consists of two wings, each accommodating 200 plates, allowing it to maintain optimal water, light, and imaging conditions for a total of 400 plates, which equals 38,400 samples. This setup uniquely generates an unprecedented volume of data—millions of data points per run—offering an exceptionally detailed dataset that allows for groundbreaking insights into plant growth dynamics.

Application purpose

In this advanced laboratory setup, the PlateButler platform precisely manages the cultivation of plant organisms. This specialized growth system automates environmental controls, nutrient delivery, and monitoring processes, ensuring optimal conditions for plant growth and research consistency.  Each plant grows within a well on a plate, and robotic arms seamlessly transport the plates from storage to the water supply. Water is provided through precision openings at the bottom of each plate. Above, LED lighting, fine-tuned to simulate natural sunlight, promotes optimal plant growth by replicating daily and seasonal light cycles. Consistent, controlled lighting is critical for research and precision in plant development. Each cycle starts in the Cytomat incubator, where cameras scan barcodes and verify plant identity. Following this, the plates move to cameras for baseline measurements, including photosynthesis, RGB imaging, and spectral analysis. Once baseline measurements and compound additions are complete, plants are imaged at set intervals, with short dark adaptation periods before each imaging session. The system runs day after day, fully automated, capturing a wealth of data stored on a secure server. Our custom synchronize software package then performs and reports the analyses for further insights. It controls the entire workflow including the three different instances of PlateButler manager.

Why choose this application

This unique system excels at generating comprehensive data, automatically storing it on a server and processing it through our proprietary software solution for in-depth analysis and reporting. The system supports precise, ongoing monitoring and optimization of plant health and growth, offering valuable insights for improving cultivation conditions and maximizing yield over time.The platform's capability to run multiple experiments simultaneously enhances both efficiency and flexibility, ensuring continuous operations with always-active experiments. Light screens throughout the PlateButler system further ensure safety, slowing or stopping robotic movements in the event of any malfunction. This protects plants from potential harm and prevents light reflections that could interfere with imaging accuracy.This platform provides a unique combination of automation, high-throughput capacity, and precision controls, enabling researchers to conduct large-scale, complex experiments with ease and reliability. The custom umbrella software automatically selects the desired samples to prepare the next optimal assays, streamlining workflows and ensuring efficient data collection. This makes it an ideal solution for researchers seeking comprehensive data and advanced insights into plant health and growth dynamics, driving innovation in agriculture. Its adaptable design also enables seamless integration into fields of pharma and biotechnology, expanding its impact and utility across the life sciences.