A multi-sensor device comprises a housing containing multiple sensor modules for capturing and transmitting sensor data for plants in a crop. A control unit within the housing is operable to control the sensor modules, and a communications interface is connected to the control unit for transmitting data from said plurality of sensor modules. The sensor modules can include a physiological sensor, a surface analysis sensor, and chemical sensor. The multi-sensor device can be used as a hand-held device or mounted to a mobile platform for use in an automated crop monitoring system.

The present invention provides a method for improving salt tolerance of a plant so as to enable the plant to be cultivated under a high salt concentration condition. The present invention discloses a method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, including suppressing or inhibiting a function of PERK13 (Proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinase 13) in a plant; the method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, wherein an antagonist of PERK13 is brought into contact with a root of the plant; the method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, wherein the antagonist is one or more species of microorganisms or a secretion therefrom; and the method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, wherein the suppression of the function of the PERK13 is carried out by suppressing expression of PERK13 gene, or the inhibition of the function of the PERK13 is carried out by inhibiting expression of PERK13 gene.

The present invention provides a method for improving salt tolerance of a plant so as to enable the plant to be cultivated under a high salt concentration condition. The present invention discloses a method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, including suppressing or inhibiting a function of PERK13 (Proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinase 13) in a plant; the method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, wherein an antagonist of PERK13 is brought into contact with a root of the plant; the method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, wherein the antagonist is one or more species of microorganisms or a secretion therefrom; and the method for improving salt tolerance of a plant, wherein the suppression of the function of the PERK13 is carried out by suppressing expression of PERK13 gene, or the inhibition of the function of the PERK13 is carried out by inhibiting expression of PERK13 gene.

A method of real-time plant selection and removal from a plant field including capturing a first image of a first section of the plant field, segmenting the first image into regions indicative of individual plants within the first section, selecting the optimal plants for retention from the first image based on the first image and the previously thinned plant field sections, sending instructions to the plant removal mechanism for removal of the plants corresponding to the unselected regions of the first image from the second section before the machine passes the unselected regions, and repeating the aforementioned steps for a second section of the plant field adjacent the first section in the direction of machine travel.

A method of real-time plant selection and removal from a plant field including capturing a first image of a first section of the plant field, segmenting the first image into regions indicative of individual plants within the first section, selecting the optimal plants for retention from the first image based on the first image and the previously thinned plant field sections, sending instructions to the plant removal mechanism for removal of the plants corresponding to the unselected regions of the first image from the second section before the machine passes the unselected regions, and repeating the aforementioned steps for a second section of the plant field adjacent the first section in the direction of machine travel.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for obtaining image information of an organism including a set of optical data; calculating a growth index based on the set of optical data; and calculating an anticipated harvest time based on the growth index, where the image information includes at least one of: (a) visible image data obtained from an image sensor and non-visible image data obtained from the image sensor, and (b) a set of image data from at least two image capture devices, where the at least two image capture devices capture the set of image data from at least two positions.

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for obtaining image information of an organism including a set of optical data; calculating a growth index based on the set of optical data; and calculating an anticipated harvest time based on the growth index, where the image information includes at least one of: (a) visible image data obtained from an image sensor and non-visible image data obtained from the image sensor, and (b) a set of image data from at least two image capture devices, where the at least two image capture devices capture the set of image data from at least two positions.

The disclosure relates to a method of cultivating plants comprising supplying at a given time a quantity of a plant protection product and/or plant growth regulator to the plants, wherein said quantity is adapted based on a prediction of a physiologic state of the plants at a time in the future relative to the given time, and is compensated for a difference between an indication of the real physiologic state of the plants at a time in the past relative to the given time and a theoretical physiologic state of the plants for said time the past.

[Object] To provide a gas detection method, an information processing apparatus, a method of diagnosing a plant, and a plant diagnosing apparatus that are capable of easily identifying a specific gas species.

[Solving Means] A gas detection method according to an embodiment of the present technology includes: heating a semiconductor sensor that includes an adsorption layer formed of a metal oxide; measuring a resistance value of the semiconductor sensor in an air atmosphere in which a reducing gas is present; and determining, where the measured resistance value is high in a first temperature range and low in a second temperature range higher than the first temperature range with reference to the resistance value of the semiconductor sensor in an air atmosphere in which the reducing gas is not present, that the reducing gas contains a hydrocarbon substance emitted from a plant or an animal.

A system for collecting information through a plant includes a first remote detecting device attached to a first portion of the plant and configured to transmit a given signal directly through the plant; the plant, which constitutes a communication channel; a second remote detecting device attached to a second portion of the plant, which is different from the first portion, and configured to receive a signal indicative of the transmitted given signal; and a sink node that communicates with the second remote detecting device.