Rapid analysis of climate resilient traits in maize crops

A warming climate will affect regional precipitation patterns. Current projections indicate that these changes will negatively impact crop yields, affecting the food security of billions of people around the world. The development of drought-resistant crops will help, but testing varieties can be challenging. Prof John Couture (Entomology and Forestry & Natural Resources) and colleagues have demonstrated that hyperspectral reflectance can be used to rapidly and nondestructively identify different leaf traits affected by drought that could serve as indicators of plant water status. With successful application in the lab as well as field settings, their approach will play an important role in precision agriculture and advance trait-based crop selection.

Cotrozzi,L., Peron, R., Tuinstra, M.R., Mickelbart, M.V., and J.J. Couture. (2020). Spectral Phenotyping of Physiological and Anatomical Leaf Traits Related with Maize Water Status. Plant Physiology 148: 1363-1377. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.20.00577