High-throughput horticultural phenomics: The history, recent advances and new prospects

With the development of advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and computer vision, horticultural phenomics has made great progress in recent years. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews to discuss the horticultural phenomics and its applications at present. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive review of the past developments, recent advances and existing challenges. Furthermore, we propose conception and give our prospects of high-throughput horticultural phenomics. We envision that horticultural phenomics will evolve towards multiscale, multidimension, multiperiod approach in the near future. This transformation will enable researchers to better realize the physiological processes, understand the genetic composition and develop new cultivars of horticultural plants that are better adapted to specific environments. Consequently, it will greatly promote the omics research in horticultural plants. In addition to advancing scientific research, high-throughput horticultural phenomics can also assist growers in efficient crop management, leading to improved yield and quality of horticultural products. However, it is important to acknowledge the challenges that need to be overcome. Once these challenges are addressed, high-throughput horticultural phenomics will become increasingly important in the fight against climate changes and maximizing profits.