StomaVision: stomatal trait analysis through deep learning

Abstract

StomaVision is an automated tool designed for high-throughput detection and measurement of stomatal traits, such as stomatal number, pore size, and closure rate. It provides insights into plant responses to environmental cues, streamlining the analysis of micrographs from field-grown plants across various species, including monocots and dicots. Enhanced by a novel collection method that utilizes video recording, StomaVision increases the number of captured images for robust statistical analysis. Accessible via an intuitive web interface at <https://stomavision.streamlit.app/> and available for local use in a containerized environment at <https://github.com/YaoChengLab/StomaVision>, this tool ensures long-term usability by minimizing the impact of software updates and maintaining functionality with minimal setup requirements. The application of StomaVision has provided significant physiological insights, such as variations in stomatal density, opening rates, and total pore area under heat stress. These traits correlate with critical physiological processes, including gas exchange, carbon assimilation, and water use efficiency, demonstrating the tool's utility in advancing our understanding of plant physiology. The ability of StomaVision to identify differences in responses to varying durations of heat treatment highlights its value in plant science research.