较近，科研人员利用WIWAM植物表型成像系统在期刊Scientific Report发表了题为Robust increase of leaf size by Arabidopsis thaliana GRF3-like transcription factors under different growth conditions的文章，研究发现rGRF3在正常和胁迫条件下，可增加植物器官尺寸，是生物技术应用上是一款得力的工具。 

WIWAM植物表型成像分析系统由位于先进Ghent大学的VIB研究所、先进的自动化工程公司SMO联合欧洲先进科学家合作研制生产的新型植物表型组学研究平台，可以全自动、高通量、高容量测量分析拟南芥、水稻、玉米、大豆等各种植物的三维表型形状及生理状态及其与环境条件关系。

WIWAM植物表型成像分析系统整合了LED植物智能培养、自动化控制系统、荧光成像测量分析（包括叶绿素、红荧光）、植物红外热成像分析、植物近红外成像分析、植物多光谱分析、植物高光谱分析、自动条码识别管理、RGB真彩3D成像、激光3D多光谱成像、计算机断层扫描技术、自动称重与浇灌系统等多项先进技术，以较优化的方式实现大量植物样品——从拟南芥、水稻、玉米到各种其它植物的生理生态与形态结构成像分析，用于高通量植物表型成像分析测量、植物胁迫响应成像分析测量、植物生长分析测量、生态毒理学研究、性状识别及植物生理生态分析研究等。

北京博普特科技有限公司是比利时WIWAM植物表型成像系统中国区总代理，全面负责其系列产品在中国市场的推广销售和售后服务，利用该系统发表的较先进文章发表在Nature Biotechnology上，近年来，利用该系统发表的文章已经多达数十篇，是上先进一款可整合各种相机系统的植物表型成像系统，所发表文章都基于高通量表型成像平台，而非单个相机系统，具有“高通量”上的科学意义。

Beltramino M, Ercoli MF, Debernardi JM, Goldy C, Rojas AML, Nota F, Alvarez ME, Vercruyssen L, Inzé D, Palatnik JF, et al (2018) Robust increase of leaf size by Arabidopsis thaliana GRF3 -like transcription factors under different growth conditions. Scientific Reports 8: 13447

An increase in crop yield is essential to reassure food security to meet the accelerating global demand. Several genetic modifications can increase organ size, which in turn might boost crop yield. Still, only in a few cases their performance has been evaluated under stress conditions. MicroRNA miR396 repress the expression of GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) genes that codes for transcription factors that promote organ growth. Here, we show that both Arabidopsis thaliana At-GRF2 and At-GRF3 genes resistant to miR396 activity (rGRF2 and rGRF3) increased organ size, but only rGRF3 can produce this effect without causing morphological defects. Furthermore, introduction of At-rGRF3 in Brassica oleraceacan increase organ size, and when At-rGRF3 homologs from soybean and rice are introduced in Arabidopsis, leaf size is also increased. This suggests that regulation of GRF3 activity by miR396 is important for organ growth in a broad range of species. Plants harboring rGRF3 have larger leaves also under drought stress, a condition that stimulates miR396 accumulation. These plants also showed an increase in the resistance to virulent bacteria, suggesting that the size increment promoted by rGRF3occurs without an obvious cost on plant defenses. Our findings indicate that rGRF3 can increase plant organ size under both normal and stress conditions and is a valuable tool for biotechnological applications.