International Plant Phenotyping Symposium (IPPS)
1.Research Presentation at the IPPS Conference
I am Alexander Feldman, a Project Assistant Professor.
I had the opportunity to present my research on "Quantification and Morphometric Analysis of Tuber Shapes of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Using Spherical Harmonics" at the International Plant Phenotyping Symposium (IPPS) held in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. This work, focusing on quantifying and analyzing the diversity of potato tuber shapes, was also selected for a “lightning talk,” a brief two-minute introduction to my poster research. Engaging with the audience afterward, I received enthusiastic interest and valuable feedback from researchers worldwide.
2.NIC Greenhouse Tour and High-Throughput Phenotyping
My visit included a tour of the Nebraska Innovation Campus Greenhouse, a facility known for its advanced high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) system. Experiencing the cutting-edge research at this facility was particularly inspiring, as it mirrored the advanced HTP infrastructure I encountered previously at NPEC in the Netherlands and the Vienna Biocenter in Austria. The NIC’s platform, which automates the measurement of plant traits using a large scale conveyor and imaging systems, enables sophisticated research.
3.Insights into Forestry and Sensor Technology
The conference also featured advancements in forestry research and sensor technology for tree phenotyping. I spoke with Dr. John Burley from the Australian National University, who shared his research on forest phenotyping using satellite time-series data. His work addresses “snow-gum dieback,” a population decline in Eucalyptus species potentially linked to longicorn beetle infestations. Another presentation by Jakub Jez from the Vienna Biocenter’s PhenoPLANT facility, whose current research focuses on Nordic spruce seedlings, represents a promising leap forward in forestry HTP. Lastly, I met with Dr. Sascha Reth, founder of UGT, a company specializing in innovative sensors like “talking tree,” which measures water transfer and diameter changes in trees with high precision. These advancements demonstrate how cutting-edge sensor technology continues to open new avenues in forest research.
4.New Connections and Opportunities for Collaboration
The conference enabled a fruitful exchange among global researchers and industry members, sparking new collaborations. At the opening dinner, I connected with the APFITA 2024 organizer, resulting in an invitation and travel grant. I also renewed ties with colleagues from Japan and Israel, leading to new introductions. Finally, an unexpected delay in Narita enabled a productive visit with former coworkers at Chiba University. I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend IPPS 2024 and for the valuable connections, inspiration, and technical knowledge I gained from it.
