Development and Evaluation of a Field-Based Phenotyping System for Cotton.

Development and Evaluation of a Field-Based Phenotyping System for Cotton

Authors: M. Mikeska, N. Rajan, G. Morgan and S. Hague

Texas A&M University

Department of Soil and Crop Science

Plant phenotyping is the determination of how a particular genotype performs within its environment. An effective plant phenotyping platform should be able to identify plant growth and development with accuracy and precision, thus enable researchers to characterize genotypes adapted to certain environmental conditions. Phenotyping techniques are usually noninvasive and should allow researchers to analyze the quantitative and qualitative traits associated with the performance of plants and their interaction with the environment. The overarching goal of this project is the development of standardized phenotyping procedures to identify high yielding and drought tolerant cotton (Gossypium hirsutum ) cultivars in South-Central Texas. The main study has a split plot design with irrigation as the main plot (90% ET replacement, 45% ET replacement and dryland), and cultivars (PHY499, FM2807, DP15R551, DP1549, FM1900, ST6182, NG1511, ST4943) as the subplot treatments. We developed a field-based high-throughput phenotyping system to measure plant height, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and canopy temperature of cotton. Plant height is measured using Senix ToughSonic 14 sensors. NDVI is measured using Decagon Spectral Reflectance Sensors. Canopy temperature is being measured using Apogee SI-111 Infrared radiometers. These sensors have been integrated and mounted on a ground based vehicle to allow for high rates of data extraction. We are currently evaluating this system using data from the field study at the Texas A&M Brazos Farm.