Thermal imaging to evaluate wheat genotypes under dryland conditions

Abstract

Abstract Thermal imaging has been used to determine canopy temperature and study plant water relationships. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential use of infrared thermal imaging to determine crop canopy temperature (Tc) and evaluate wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under drought conditions. Thermal images were acquired at anthesis and grain‐filling stages from 17 genotypes grown under dryland conditions in 2015 and 2016 winter wheat growing season at Bushland, TX. A handheld thermal camera was used to acquire thermal images and the images were processed using customized image processing software. The customized software filters out the background soil from the thermal images and calculates the mean Tc. A significant difference (p < .05) in Tc among genotypes was found during grain filling in 2015 and at anthesis in 2016. Genotypes TAM 111, TAM 114, PlainsGold Byrd, and Jagalene had cooler canopies, and Billings, TAM 304, and TAM 105 had warmer canopies in both years. There was a significant negative correlation between grain yield and Tc measured at anthesis (r =–.48, p < .05) and grain‐filling (r = –.33, p < .05). Infrared thermal imaging showed a promising method to obtain Tc, which can be used to evaluate genotypes for drought tolerance.