Abstract
Phenotyping in field experiments is challenging due to interactions between plants and effects from biotic and abiotic factors which increase complexity in plant development. In such environments, visual or destructive measurements are considered the limiting factor and novel approaches are necessary. Remote multispectral imaging is a powerful method that has shown significant potential to estimate crop physiology. However, precise measurements of phenotypic differences between crop varieties in field experiments require exclusion of the disturbances caused by wind and varying sunlight. A mobile and closed multispectral imaging system was developed to study canopies in field experiments. This system shuts out wind and sunlight to ensure the highest possible precision and accuracy. Multispectral images were acquired in an experiment with four different wheat varieties, two different nitrogen levels, replicated on two different soil types at four different dates from 15 May (BBCH 13) to 18 June (BBCH 41 to 57). The images were analyzed and derived vegetation coverage and Normalized Difference Vegetation index (NDVI) were used to assess varietal differences. The results showed potentials for differentiating between the varieties using both vegetation coverage and NDVI, especially at the early growth stages. The perspectives of high-precision and high-throughput imaging for field phenotyping are discussed including the potentials of measuring varietal differences via spectral imaging in comparison to other simpler technologies such as spectral reflectance and RGB imaging.
Highlights
Plant scientists have gained vast knowledge about the genetics of various plant species during recent years
The results showed potentials for differentiating between the varieties using both vegetation coverage and Normalized Difference Vegetation index (NDVI), especially at the early growth stages
Based on [2] we refer to phenotyping as a set of methods to measure the dynamic development of a plant based on growth, architecture and physiological responses both visually and via remote sensing
Summary
Plant scientists have gained vast knowledge about the genetics of various plant species during recent years It has become increasingly easier and more inexpensive to sequence genomes and measure plant characteristics with non-destructive sensors [1,2,3]. A major reason for this is that increased plant density changes the architecture and physiology of plants significantly as a result of competition for light, nutrients, and water [4,5]. Another reason is the dynamic response of genotypes towards varying environment and management practices [6]. Based on [2] we refer to phenotyping as a set of methods to measure the dynamic development of a plant based on growth, architecture and physiological responses both visually and via remote sensing
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