PhenoApp: A mobile tool for plant phenotyping to record field and greenhouse observations

Abstract

With the ongoing cost decrease of genotyping and sequencing technologies, accurate and fast phenotyping remains the bottleneck in the utilizing of plant genetic resources for breeding and breeding research. Although cost-efficient high-throughput phenotyping platforms are emerging for specific traits and/or species, manual phenotyping is still widely used and is a time- and money-consuming step. Approaches that improve data recording, processing or handling are pivotal steps towards the efficient use of genetic resources and are demanded by the research community. Therefore, we developed PhenoApp, an open-source Android app for tablets and smartphones to facilitate the digital recording of phenotypical data in the field and in greenhouses. It is a versatile tool that offers the possibility to fully customize the descriptors/scales for any possible scenario, also in accordance with international information standards such as MIAPPE (Minimum Information About a Plant Phenotyping Experiment) and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles. Furthermore, PhenoApp enables the use of pre-integrated ready-to-use BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie) scales for apple, cereals, grapevine, maize, potato, rapeseed and rice. Additional BBCH scales can easily be added. The simple and adaptable structure of input and output files enables an easy data handling by either spreadsheet software or even the integration in the workflow of laboratory information management systems (LIMS). PhenoApp is therefore a decisive contribution to increase efficiency of digital data acquisition in genebank management but also contributes to breeding and breeding research by accelerating the labour intensive and time-consuming acquisition of phenotyping data.

Digitalization of potato breeding program: Improving data collection and management

“… PhenoApp: PhenoApp is an Android-based open-source tool that helps breeding programs to digitalize data collection. The phenoApps project aims to boost the overall efficiency of breeding programs by integrating and improving existing image processing, modeling, and data collection programs through user-friendly mobile applications [ 8 ]. It includes Field Book for data collection and Intercross for managing crosses.…”

Smartphone‐based digital phenotyping for genome‐wide association study of intramuscular fat traits in longissimus dorsi muscle of pigs

“…Pearson correlation coefficient between the digital IMF content and the IMF content measured by NIRS reached 0.74, proving the feasibility of using Pork IMF App to measure IMF content. Recently, a few methodologies based on mobile App have been successfully used to perform high‐throughput phenotyping in plants (Asani et al., 2023; Müller‐Linow et al., 2019; Röckel et al., 2022). Our research presents a case study of using a mobile device for animal phenotyping.…”

A variety test platform for the standardization and data quality improvement of crop variety tests

“…In addition, the standardized management of the test process guarantees the generation of standardized and high-quality data. In addition, whereas past work on the subject was mainly focused on the management of test data through various software packages such as PhenoApp ( Rckel et al., 2022 ) or Phenotyper ( Köhl and Gremmels, 2015 ), little attention has been paid to the testing business process. The VTP can realize the standardized management of the whole variety testing process while supporting the customization of collected traits for each test program, including the characteristics to be recorded and their processing methods.…”