Multispectral image analysis detects differences in drought responses in novel seeded Miscanthus sinensis hybrids. Issue 11 (24th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lazarević, Boris; Kontek, Mislav; Carović‐Stanko, Klaudija; Clifton‐Brown, John; Al Hassan, Mohamad; Trindade, Luisa M.; Jurišić, Vanja
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 14:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: 1219
• Page End: 1234
• Publication Date: 2022-09-24
• Subjects: drought -- Miscanthus sinensis -- multispectral analyses -- phenotyping -- recovery; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Energy crops -- Periodicals; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12999
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-1693

Abstract

Abstract: Drought tolerance in Miscanthus sinensis is a desirable trait because of its potential use to develop new varieties, namely intra‐specific hybrids, adapted to drought‐prone marginal lands. In this study, drought tolerance was evaluated on 8 M. sinensis intra‐specific hybrids (GRC1–GRC8). Plants were grown in the growth chamber (14/10 h, 25/20°C, 70% relative air humidity and 300 μmol m −2 s −1 irradiance). Drought was induced by withholding irrigation for 21 days (stress phase) and after re‐watering (recovery phase) for 7 days. Nondestructive multispectral 3D images for plant morphology, color, and chlorophyll fluorescence imaging were used to quantify drought‐induced changes on a weekly basis for the entire duration of the experiment. Total leaf area (TLA) and digital biomass (DB) responded most rapidly to water deficits (7–14 days), followed by leaf senescence (14–21 days), and finally, a drop in the maximum efficiency of PSII ( F v / F m ; 21 days). Traits measured on the last day of the drought treatment were used to calculate the phenotypic plasticity. Significant differences in drought susceptibility and phenotypic plasticity were found among the studied hybrids. Drought treatment (21 days) reduced DB and TLA on average by 50%, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) by 20% and F v / F m from 0.79 (in control) to 0.69 in the less drought‐susceptible hybrids (GRC4 and GRC5), whereas in drought‐sensitive hybrids (GRC2 and GRC3), 21 days of drought reduced DB and TLA on average by 80%, NDVI by 45% and F v / F m dropped from 0.79 (in control) to 0.35. The more drought‐resilient hybrids showed lower phenotypic plasticity than their more sensitive counterparts, a stay‐green strategy enabled through lower biomass accumulation and by extension, reduced water usage. Multispectral imaging and image analysis enabled fast and nondestructive quantification of plant morphological and physiological responses under drought conditions and could be used as an effective screening tool for drought susceptibility. Abstract : Miscanthus ( M. sacchariflorus × M. sinensis ) is relatively sensitive to drought, while it may be possible to increase drought tolerance through breeding with drought‐tolerant parental genotypes. Due to the wide range of plant traits affected by drought, a more integrative approach that will use multiple sensors and gain information about multiple phenotypic traits is needed. Multispectral imaging and image analysis enabled fast and nondestructive quantification of plant morphological and physiological responses under drought conditions and could be used as an effective screening tool for drought susceptibility.