High-Throughput Phenotyping in Potato Breeding

Abstract

AbstractIncreasing tuber yield, yield stability, biotic and abiotic stress resistance/tolerance, and improving nutritional quality characteristics are the important goals of potato breeding. Traditional phenotyping methods are comparatively lesser efficient than the high-throughput plant phenotyping (HTP) platforms for screening of elite genotypes. HTP platforms are image-based, non-destructive procedures that employ a series of electromagnetic-radiation wavelength bands and sensed by high-resolution cameras by visible and hyperspectral images and thermal sensors for capturing plant responses to environmental stimuli. Efficient HTP techniques are essential to develop new improved potato varieties for multiple traits like high yield potential, tuber quality traits, resistant to disease and pests, and abiotic stress (heat, drought, and nutrient use efficiency) to combat under climate change scenario. We speculate application of HTP with aeroponic culture for precised phenotyping for above- and underground plant parts in potato. For precision trait phenotyping, aeroponic-HTP technologies would be a good application for nutrient-based experiments and other traits as well, whereas HTP in soil-based pot cultivation would be promising technologies for investigation of heat and drought stress tolerance, and other biotic/abiotic stresses including tuber quality parameters. Besides, HTP application also uses RGB camera mounted with unmanned aerial vehicles for field trail studies. The purpose of this chapter is to present applications of HTP in potato could enhance selection efficacy for next-generation potato breeding.KeywordsAeroponicBreedingFieldHigh-throughput phenotypingPotatoPotTraits