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84 SEEDWORLD.COM DECEMBER 2015 Even with the use of drone technologies inspecting plants up close is still needed. Raineys students previously used around 70000 images from the ground to aid in this endeavor. Drones are not the only platform for collect- ing new data. Drones are limited by a resolution of 4 centimeters so Rainey also employs vehicles called phenomobiles. These can be hi-boy trac- tors or even golf carts that are fitted with several sensors that can measure phenotypes. Because the phenomobiles are so close to the crop their images can be more accurate than the drones. Along with the images hyperspectral reflec- tance sensors are used. These sensors can detect wavelengths of light that reflect back to the phe- notyping platform whether thats a drone tractor or aircraft. The sensor divides the wavelengths into narrow bands and quantifies each one. These wavelengths provide insight into factors such as plant temperature and chlorophyll content. Even though she focuses on soybean breeding Rainey collaborates with several others in different disciplines. Engineers work with the hyperspectral sensors. Agricultural and biological engineers oper- ate the drone platform and contribute expertise in remote sensing. They also analyze data from drone images and program systems so that information the researchers are seeking can be extracted from the geographic information systems. While Rainey measures phenotypic traits in the field because she is working in the same environ- ment as farmers the research could also be done in growth chambers or greenhouses. Soybean seeds can be phenotyped using near infrared reflectance NIR an industry-wide measurement that provides real time results. The protein and oil content are collected and an algorithm developed for a training set. Rainey notes that her research could be most applicable for Indiana and other I states and that the ability to predict yield using phenotypes in other environments might be limited. In a different zone of adaptation where you have different planting and harvesting dates and production systems yield predictions may be dif- ferent Rainey says. Although these applications are five to 10 years from the farmers field Rainey says that service providers are already measuring crop performance using sensors as part of precision agriculture. There is some uncertainty as to regulations surrounding drones Rainey notes but in the long run being able to predict yield through phenotyping can save time and labor and accomplish tasks more effi- ciently accurately and precisely. We can convert a subjective opinion to a quantitative measurement she says. Were trying something new that was impossible previously. Businesses such as DuPont Pioneer also are researching how phenotype can predict yield. Neil Hausmann senior research manager for breeding technologies says that the most expensive aspect of product development is measuring yield during field testing of its hybrids. Variability in the yield of hybrids across time and space necessitates multi-year and multi- environment testing Hausmann says. Accurate yield prediction could significantly reduce the time needed to develop products thus getting new and improved varieties into the hands of our customers more rapidly. Precision Phenotyping Hausmann points to three areas to demonstrate how Pioneer works with precision phenotyping carefully controlled field trials precision phe- notyping technologies and a modeling system known as EnClass. During carefully managed field trials variations in yield potential and yield stability are measured. Hausmann shares that Pioneer uses several man- aged testing environments in which they precisely control aspects such as irrigation chemical appli- cations and fertilization. Situations that farmers could encounter in the field such as drought nitrogen deficiency or disease can be reproduced. In these simulations genetic lines in the breeding pipeline are monitored to measure how they react. Plant phenotypes that explain genetic and envi- ronmental aspects and determine yield are then measured. Technologies that precisely measure pheno- type are used in field trials to directly measure At DuPont Pioneer researchers use the Boreas wind machine to measure standability traits of different hybrids. Katy Rainey is a Purdue University assistant professor of plant breeding and genetics. Neil Hausmann serves as DuPont Pioneer senior research manager for breeding technologies. PHOTOTOMCAMPBELLPURDUEUNIVERSITY. PHOTODUPONTPIONEER.