PODFA: A Raspberry Pi-Based User-Friendly Analyzer Measuring Petal Detachment Force in Flower Abscission Studies

Abscission is the process through which plants shed organs, including petals, leaves, fruits, and seeds. Quantitative measurement of organ detachment force is crucial for characterizing abscission phenotypes; however, most studies still depend on qualitative assessments, such as visual scoring of attached versus detached organs at specific developmental stages. Although a method for constructing a petal break strength meter has been reported, the reliance of this method on microcontrollers and manual petal pulling has limited accessibility and consistency. Thus, this study presents the Plant Organ Detachment Force Analyzer (PODFA), a Raspberry Pi-based device that improves accessibility and measurement precision. A PODFA incorporates an automated vertical stage to minimize operator-dependent error and provides a user‑friendly interface to facilitate using this analyzer in abscission research. While optimized for Arabidopsis petals, a PODFA can be readily adapted to measure detachment forces in other plant organs by modifying the gripping components, making this analyzer a versatile and cost‑effective tool for studying organ abscission.