Journal of Agricultural Big Data ›› 2019, Vol. 1 ›› Issue (2): 5-14.doi: 10.19788/j.issn.2096-6369.190201

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Big Data of Plant Phenomics and Its Research Progress

Chunjiang Zhao1,2,3   

  1. 1.Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing 100097
    2.National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing 100097
    3.Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Plant, Beijing 100097
  • Received:2019-05-05 Online:2019-06-26 Published:2019-08-21

Abstract:

Plant phenomics is capable of acquiring gigantic multi-dimensional, multi-environment, and multi-source heterogeneous plant phenotyping datasets through integrated automation platforms and information retrieval technologies, based on which the big-data driven plant phenomics research is established. This emerging research domain aims to systematically and thoroughly explore the internal relationship between "gene-phenotype-environment" at the omics level, so that phenomics methods can be utilized to unravel the formation mechanism of specific biological traits in a comprehensive manner. As a result, it is greatly catalyzing the research progress of functional genomics, crop molecular breeding, and efficient cultivation. In this paper, we summarized the background, definition, initiation, and features of the big-data driven plant phenomics, followed by a systemic overview of the progress of this field, including the acquisition and analysis of plant phenotyping data, data management and relevant database construction techniques for administering big data generated, the prediction of phenotypic traits, and its connection with the plant omics research. Furthermore, this paper focuses on discussing present problems and challenges encountered by both plant research and related applications, including (1) the standardization of collecting plant phenotypes, (2) research and development (R&D) of diverse phenotyping devices, supporting facilities, and low-cost phenotyping equipment, (3) the establishment of big data platforms that can openly share phenotyping data and phenotypic traits information, (4) theoretical approaches for fusion algorithms and data mining techniques, and (5) collaborative, sharing and interactive mechanisms for the plant phenomics community to adopt. Finally, the paper puts forward suggestions in four aspects that need to be strengthened: (1) systematic design and standards of plant phenomics research, (2) revealing the mechanism of plant phenotype and environtype to facilitate intelligent equipment R&D, (3) the establishment of big data for plant phenomics, and (4) the formation of collaborations through academic networks and specialized research groups and laboratories.

Key words: plant phenomics, big data, digital plant, data mining, data management, data acquisition, trait prediction, big data platform of plant phenomics

CLC Number: 

  • S-1