Characterization of Wheat Mapping Population for Growth Pattern and Use of Multispectral Imaging Based NDVI Data for Yield Estimation.

Uniform tiller distribution and plant type are crucial traits that are directly linked to the length of vegetative and reproductive phases. These phases are directly linked by altering plant's thermal requirements. Minimum vegetative growth and an earlier synchronized flowering pattern result in a prolonged grain filling period. In determinate plants, minimum vegetative growth leads to sustained photosynthesis and production of sufficient assimilates to maximize size and weight of grains. While, indeterminate plants yield undesirable attributes including a sustained sequence of tillers and non-uniform flowering which lead to variations in the maturity time and grain size. UAV analysis could be helpful in identifying the relationship between plant’s morphology and the thermal requirements of individual genotypes at different growth and developmental stages. This research compares conventional phenotyping and UAV based high-throughput field phenotyping techniques to identify plant’s growth and morphological features in terms of determinacy and synchronization. This study will provide a key tool for understanding the molecular and genetic basis of wheat ideotype related traits.