Sensor plant and method for identifying stressors in crops based on characteristics of sensor plants

Abstract

One variation of a method for identifying stressors in crops based on fluorescence of sensor plants includes: accessing a set of spectral images of a sensor plant sown in a crop, the sensor plant of a sensor plant type including a set of promoters and a set of reporters configured to signal a set of stressors present at the sensor plant, the set of promoters and set of reporters forming a set of promoter-reporter pairs; accessing a reporter model linking characteristics extracted from the set of spectral images of the sensor plant to the set of stressors based on signals generated by the set of promoter-reporter pairs in the sensor plant type; and identifying a first stressor, in the set of stressors, present at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and characteristics extracted from the set of spectral images.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying stressors in crops based on fluorescence of sensor plants comprising:
 accessing a set of spectral images of a sensor plant sown in a crop, the sensor plant of a sensor plant type comprising a set of promoters and a set of reporters configured to signal a set of stressors present at the sensor plant, the set of promoters and the set of reporters forming a set of promoter-reporter pairs, the set of images comprising:
 a first image depicting a downwelling light spectrum corresponding to solar radiation and captured, at a first time, by an optical spectrometer defining a first field of view facing opposite the sensor plant; and 
 a second image depicting an upwelling light spectrum captured at approximately the first time by the optical spectrometer defining a second field of view facing the sensor plant; 
   accessing a reflectance factor corresponding to the sensor plant in the presence of light;   estimating a reflected light spectrum, representing reflected light at approximately the first time, based on the reflectance factor and the downwelling light spectrum;   deriving a reporter fluorescent light spectrum based on a first difference between the upwelling light spectrum and the reflected light spectrum;   accessing a reporter model linking solar-induced fluorescence measurements, extracted from downwelling light spectra and upwelling light spectra, to the set of stressors in plants of the sensor plant type based on fluorescence signals generated by the set of promoter-reporter pairs; and   characterizing presence of a first stressor, in the set of stressors, at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and the reporter fluorescent light spectrum.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein deriving the reporter fluorescent light spectrum based on the first difference between the upwelling light spectrum and the reflected light spectrum comprises:
 characterizing the first difference between the upwelling light spectrum and the reflected light spectrum;   estimating a fluorescent light spectrum, representative of fluorescent light at the first time, based on the first difference;   estimating a nominal fluorescent light spectrum, representative of expected fluorescence within an area of the sensor plant at the first time, absent the first stressor, according to the downwelling light spectrum;   characterizing a second difference between the fluorescent light spectrum and the nominal fluorescent light spectrum; and   estimating the reporter fluorescent light spectrum for the sensor plant based on the second difference.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant comprises accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant comprising the set of promoters and the set of reporters, forming the set of promoter-reporter pairs comprising a first promoter-reporter pair comprising:
 a first promoter gene, in a set of promoter genes, configured to selectively express based on presence of the first stressor at sensor plants of the sensor plant type; and   a first reporter gene, in a set of reporter genes, paired to the first promoter gene and configured to express a target fluorescence signal responsive to expression of the first promoter gene.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  Claim 3 :
 wherein accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant comprising the first promoter-reporter pair comprises accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant comprising the set of promoters and the set of reporters, forming the set of promoter-reporter pairs comprising the first promoter-reporter pair comprising:
 the first promoter gene configured to selectively express based on presence of the first stressor, comprising a fungal stressor, at sensor plants of the sensor plant type; and 
 the first reporter gene paired to the first promoter gene and configured to express the target fluorescence signal responsive to expression of the first promoter gene; and 
   wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant comprises characterizing presence of the fungal stressor at the sensor plant based on detection of the target fluorescence signal.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant comprises accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant genetically modified to include a first promoter-reporter pair, in the set of promoter-reporter pairs, configured to fluoresce at a first target intensity, at a first wavelength, in response to presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant; and   wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and the reporter fluorescent light spectrum comprises:
 extracting a first intensity of fluorescent light, at the first wavelength, depicted in the reporter fluorescent light spectrum; and 
 characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on a difference between the first target intensity and the first intensity. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant comprises accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant genetically modified to include:
 a first promoter-reporter pair, in the set of promoter-reporter pairs, configured to fluoresce at a first target intensity, at a first wavelength, in response to presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant; and 
 a second promoter-reporter pair, in the set of promoter-reporter pairs, configured to fluoresce at a second target intensity, at a second wavelength, in response to presence of a second stressor, in the set of stressors, at the sensor plant; 
   wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and the fluorescent light spectrum comprises:
 extracting a first intensity of fluorescent light, at the first wavelength, depicted in the fluorescent light spectrum; and 
 characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on a first difference between the first target intensity and the first intensity; and 
   further comprising:
 extracting a second intensity of fluorescent light, at the second wavelength, depicted in the fluorescent light spectrum; and 
 characterizing presence of the second stressor at the sensor plant based on a second difference between the second target intensity and the second intensity. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 :
 wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the first difference comprises:
 in response to the first difference exceeding a threshold difference, predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant; and 
 in response to the first difference falling below the threshold difference, predicting absence of the first stressor at the sensor plant; and 
   wherein characterizing presence of the second stressor at the sensor plant based on the second difference comprises:
 in response to the second difference exceeding the threshold difference, predicting presence of the second stressor at the sensor plant; and 
 in response to the second difference falling below the threshold difference, predicting absence of the second stressor at the sensor plant. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method for identifying stressors in crops based on fluorescence of sensor plants comprising:
 accessing a set of spectral images of a sensor plant sown in a crop, the sensor plant of a sensor plant type comprising a set of promoters and a set of reporters configured to signal a set of stressors present at the sensor plant, the set of promoters and the set of reporters forming a set of promoter-reporter pairs, the set of images comprising:
 a first spectral image depicting a downwelling light spectrum, corresponding to solar radiation, and captured at a first time by a first optical sensor defining a first field of view facing opposite the sensor plant; and 
 a second spectral image depicting an upwelling light spectrum and captured at approximately the first time by a second optical sensor defining a second field of view facing the sensor plant; 
   estimating a nominal upwelling light spectrum, representing expected reflectance and fluorescence of the sensor plant at the first time, absent the set of stressors, according to the downwelling light spectrum;   characterizing a difference between the upwelling light spectrum represented in the second spectral image and the nominal upwelling light spectrum;   accessing a reporter model linking solar induced fluorescence measurements extracted from spectral images of sensor plants, of the sensor plant type, to the set of stressors based on signals generated by the set of promoter-reporter pairs; and   characterizing presence of a first stressor, in the set of stressors, at the sensor plant based on the difference and the reporter model.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 :
 wherein characterizing the difference between the upwelling light spectrum and the nominal upwelling light spectrum comprises:
 extracting a first intensity, at a first wavelength, in the upwelling light spectrum; 
 extracting a first nominal intensity, at the first wavelength, in the nominal upwelling light spectrum; and 
 characterizing a first difference between the first intensity and the first nominal intensity; and 
   wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant comprises, in response to the first difference exceeding a threshold difference, predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  Claim 9 , wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant further comprises, in response to predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant:
 extracting a second intensity, at a second wavelength, in the upwelling light spectrum;   extracting a second nominal intensity, at the second wavelength, in the nominal upwelling light spectrum;   calculating a second difference between the second intensity and the second nominal intensity; and   in response to the second difference exceeding the threshold difference, confirming presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant.   
     
     
         8 . method of  claim 8 :
 wherein characterizing the difference between the upwelling light spectrum and the nominal upwelling light spectrum comprises:
 extracting a first intensity, at a first wavelength, in the upwelling light spectrum; 
 extracting a first nominal intensity, at the first wavelength, in the nominal upwelling light spectrum; and 
 characterizing a first difference between the first intensity and the first nominal intensity; and 
   wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant comprises, in response to the first difference exceeding a threshold difference:
 predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to a first confidence score; and 
 in response to predicting presence of the first stressor at the senor plant according to the first confidence score:
 extracting a second intensity, at a second wavelength, in the upwelling light spectrum; 
 extracting a second nominal intensity, at the second wavelength, in the nominal upwelling light spectrum; 
 calculating a second difference between the second intensity and the second nominal intensity; and 
 in response to the second difference exceeding the threshold difference, predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to a second confidence score exceeding the first confidence score. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and fluorescence measurements extracted from the set of spectral images comprises:
 extracting a first upwelling intensity, at a first wavelength, depicted in the upwelling light spectrum;   extracting a second upwelling intensity, at a second wavelength, depicted in the upwelling light spectrum;   extracting a first nominal upwelling intensity, at the first wavelength, depicted in the nominal upwelling light spectrum;   extracting a second nominal upwelling intensity, at the second wavelength, depicted in the nominal upwelling light spectrum;   estimating a first area below a first curve of the upwelling light spectrum between the first wavelength and the second wavelength based on the first upwelling intensity and the second upwelling intensity;   estimating a first nominal area below a second curve of the nominal upwelling light spectrum between the first wavelength and the second wavelength based on the first nominal intensity and the second nominal intensity;   characterizing a difference between the first area and the first nominal area; and   characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the difference and the reporter model.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the difference and the reporter model comprises, in response to the difference exceeding a threshold difference, estimating a magnitude of presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the difference. 
     
     
         14 . A method for identifying stressors in crops based on fluorescence of sensor plants comprising:
 accessing a first set of spectral images of a sensor plant sown in a crop, the sensor plant of a sensor plant type comprising a set of promoters and a set of reporters configured to signal a set of stressors present at the sensor plant, the set of promoters and the set of reporters forming a set of promoter-reporter pairs, the first set of spectral images comprising:
 a first spectral image depicting a downwelling light spectrum, corresponding to solar radiation, and captured at a first time by a first optical spectrometer defining a first field of view facing opposite the sensor plant; and 
 a second spectral image depicting an upwelling light spectrum captured at approximately the first time by a second optical spectrometer defining a second field of view facing the sensor plant; 
   accessing a reporter model linking fluorescence measurements extracted from images of sensor plants of the sensor plant type to presence of the set of stressors based on fluorescent signals expressed by sensors plants of the sensor plant type; and   characterizing presence of a first stressor, in the set of stressors, at the first sensor plant based on the reporter model and fluorescence measurements extracted from the set of spectral images.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and fluorescence measurements extracted from the set of spectral images comprises:
 extracting a first downwelling intensity, at a first wavelength, depicted in the downwelling light spectrum;   extracting a first upwelling intensity, at the first wavelength, depicted in the upwelling light spectrum;   characterizing a difference between the first downwelling intensity and the first upwelling intensity; and   in response to the difference exceeding a threshold difference, predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant.   
     
     
         15 . method of  claim 15 :
 wherein extracting the first downwelling intensity at the first wavelength comprises extracting the first downwelling intensity at the first wavelength within a Fraunhofer band;   wherein predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant comprises predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to a first confidence score; and   further comprising, in response to predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to the first confidence score:
 extracting a second downwelling intensity, at a second wavelength within the Fraunhofer band, depicted in the downwelling light spectrum; 
 extracting a second upwelling intensity, at the second wavelength, depicted in the upwelling light spectrum; 
 characterizing a second difference between the second downwelling intensity and the second upwelling intensity; and 
 in response to the second difference exceeding the threshold difference, predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to a second confidence score exceeding the first confidence score. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 :
 wherein predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant comprises predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to a first confidence score; and   further comprising, in response to predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to the first confidence score:
 extracting a second downwelling intensity, at a second wavelength, depicted in the downwelling light spectrum; 
 extracting a second upwelling intensity, at the second wavelength, depicted in the upwelling light spectrum; 
 characterizing a second difference between the second downwelling intensity and the second upwelling intensity; and 
 in response to the second difference falling below the threshold difference, predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant according to a third confidence score less than the first confidence score. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and fluorescence measurements extracted from the set of spectral images further comprises, in response to the difference falling below the threshold difference, predicting absence of the first stressor at the sensor plant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on the reporter model and fluorescence measurements extracted from the set of spectral images comprises:
 estimating a nominal upwelling light spectrum representing reflectance and fluorescence of the sensor plant at the first time, absent the first stressor, in the presence of light according to the downwelling light spectrum;   extracting a first upwelling intensity, at a first wavelength, depicted in the upwelling light spectrum;   extracting a first nominal upwelling intensity, at the first wavelength, depicted in the nominal upwelling light spectrum;   calculating a difference between the first upwelling intensity and the first nominal upwelling intensity; and   in response to the difference exceeding a threshold difference, predicting presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 :
 wherein accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant comprises accessing the set of spectral images of the sensor plant genetically modified to include:
 a first promoter-reporter pair, in the set of promoter-reporter pairs, configured to generate a first fluorescence signal, within a first wavelength range, in response to presence of a first stressor, in the set of stressors, at the sensor plant; and 
 a second promoter-reporter pair, in the set of promoter-reporter pairs, configured to generate a second fluorescence signal, within a second wavelength range, in response to presence of a second stressor, in the set of stressors, at the sensor plant; 
   wherein characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant comprises characterizing presence of the first stressor at the sensor plant based on fluorescence measurements extracted from the set of spectral images at wavelengths within the first wavelength range; and   further comprising characterizing presence of the second stressor at the sensor plant based on fluorescence measurements extracted from the set of spectral images at wavelengths within the second wavelength range.