Robotic Soil Instrument for Parasitology

Every year, soybean yields are reduced by numerous diseases, especially the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Identifying the presence of SCN and measuring its population densities in the field is challenging as there are no visible signs of disease. The only sure way to evaluate SCN population levels is to extract the cysts from the soil, extract the eggs from the cysts, and count them. Currently, this extraction process is typically done in commercial soil analysis laboratories and university plant diagnostic clinics and requires multiple steps. To make this process easier, we have created a robotic instrument that can automate the extraction of nematode cysts from soil and the subsequent release of their eggs. This technology is operated using a touchscreen interface and is tested using soil samples from two farms. The results are comparable to the conventional technique. Our robotic instrument makes SCN soil diagnostics more efficient, aiding in the long-term integrated pest management of this harmful soybean pest.