Organ-level 3D phenotyping of saffron using a low-cost dual-camera workflow.

backgroundPrecise, non-destructive phenotyping of saffron during vegetative growth is critical for optimizing corm yield and accelerating breeding programs, yet systematic 3D measurements have remained elusive due to extreme morphological challenges: ultra-narrow leaves, severe mutual occlusion, and prostrate growth architecture. Traditional single-view imaging systems fail to resolve individual leaves under such conditions, limiting phenotypic analysis to whole-canopy descriptors. Here, we developed a specialized organ-level 3D phenotyping workflow specifically designed for narrow, overlapping leaves using a low-cost dual-camera rotary acquisition system integrated with open-source Structure-from-Motion Multi-View Stereo (SfM-MVS) reconstruction.

resultsThe dual-perspective strategy reduces occlusion-induced errors by 75% compared to single-view approaches, enabling robust organ-level segmentation via a multi-constraint clustering strategy. Automated measurements of leaf length and width across five developmental stages demonstrate exceptional agreement with manual references (R

conclusionsThis work demonstrates that organ-level 3D phenotyping of narrow, overlapping leaves is achievable using low-cost imaging hardware and transparent methodological workflows. Complete documentation of algorithmic parameters and hardware specifications enables direct replication and adaptation to other narrow-leaved crops (wheat, rice, onion, leek), democratizing access to high-throughput phenotyping in resource-limited settings. The workflow advances plant phenomics by demonstrating that methodological transparency and cost-effectiveness need not compromise measurement precision, opening new avenues for phenotype-to-genotype mapping and predictive breeding in underutilized crops.