Phone ai-powered assessment of seeds, seedlings, and plant quality for breeding

Overview

This solution offers a portable, phone-based AI assessment tool for plant breeding that consolidates seed, seedling, and plant quality evaluation into a single low-cost device. Traditional AI assessment workflows require separate expensive setups for each developmental stage. This technology enables breeders to assess 100-200 plant samples from seed through mature plant stages with one device, dramatically improving efficiency and enabling field-condition assessments.

The platform builds on proven phone-based AI technology already validated for assessing approximately 1,200 grains with a single image. The same device extends to sprouting counts, seedling vigor assessment, and full plant evaluation. A key advantage is the ability to backtrack seedling quality to specific seeds, enabling pre-selection of seeds carrying desired plant characteristics.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Phone-based AI attachment providing low-cost alternative to dedicated imaging setups
• Single-image assessment of large sample quantities (approximately 1,200 grains per image)
• Sprouting count and germination rate analysis
• Seedling vigor assessment using the same device
• Seed-to-seedling traceability for pre-selection of desirable traits
• Portable design enabling field-condition deployment
• AI-driven trait detection and quality scoring

Technology readiness level

The underlying grain assessment technology has been validated through prior work and demonstrated at scale. The sprouting and seedling vigor capabilities have been demonstrated with the same device platform. A planned collaboration with Bayer will validate the full workflow: imaging seeds, assessing sprouting and germination rates, evaluating seedling quality, identifying seeds with desirable traits, training the AI app, and measuring efficacy for improved plant breeding outcomes. This represents an active development and validation phase with industry partnership.