New tools for high-throughput plant phenotyping

A major challenge for future global agricultural productivity is the identification of high-yielding crop genotypes that are adapted to our changing climate. Consequently, non-invasive monitoring and interpretation of plant structural and functional phenotypes in controlled, or variable, environmental conditions is becoming increasingly important in genetic and physiological research by crop breeders, the Ag-Biotech industry and academia.  Automated high-throughput plant phenotyping techniques provide tools for accelerating crop breeding programs by linking gene function with phenotypic traits expressed under measured environmental conditions.

Photon Systems Instruments of the Czech Republic has developed a range of PlantScreen^TM phenotyping platforms that use novel optical techniques to quantify numerous indices of plant development, physiological status and performance in the greenhouse, growth room and field. The platforms incorporate imaging technologies for RGB and morphometric analysis, thermal analysis, hyperspectral analysis and, critically, comprehensive analyses of chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics. The latter technique is used as a tool for non-invasive measurement of photosynthetic activity in plants during different developmental stages, and provides the most rapid indication of the onset of abiotic stresses, as well as the ability to track recovery from such stresses after amelioration.

This presentation will review the imaging techniques that may be used for plant phenotyping with special emphasis on analysis of chlorohyll fluorescence and hyperspectral imaging. Data from a range of plants subjected to various abiotic stresses will be presented.