ABSTRACT
The characterization, analysis, and evaluation of morphology and structure are crucial in wheat research. Quantitative and fine characterization of wheat morphology and structure from a three-dimensional (3D) perspective has great theoretical significance and application value in plant architecture identification, high light efficiency breeding, and cultivation. This study proposes a geometric modeling method of wheat plants based on the 3D phytomer concept. Specifically, 3D plant architecture parameters at the organ, phytomer, single stem, and individual plant scales were extracted based on the geometric models. Furthermore, plant architecture vector (PA) was proposed to comprehensively evaluate wheat plant architecture, including convergence index (C), leaf structure index (L), phytomer structure index (PHY), and stem structure index (S). The proposed method could quickly and efficiently achieve 3D wheat plant modeling by assembling 3D phytomers. In addition, the extracted PA quantifies the plant architecture differences in multi-scales among different cultivars, thus, realizing a shift from the traditional qualitative to quantitative analysis of plant architecture. Overall, this study promotes the application of the 3D phytomer concept to multi-tiller crops, thereby providing a theoretical and technical basis for 3D plant modeling and plant architecture quantification in wheat.
ABSTRACT
Real-time monitoring of canopy chlorophyll content is significant in understanding crop growth status and guiding precision agricultural management. Remote sensing methods have demonstrated great potential in this regard. However, the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of chlorophyll content within crop canopies poses challenges to the accuracy and stability of remote sensing estimation models. Hence, this study aimed to develop a novel method for estimating canopy chlorophyll content (represented by SPAD values) in maize (Zea mays L.) canopies. Firstly, we investigated the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of maize canopy SPAD values under varying nitrogen application rates and different growth stages. The results revealed a non-uniform, "bell-shaped" curve distribution of maize canopy SPAD values in the vertical direction. Nitrogen application significantly influenced the distribution structure of SPAD values within the canopy. Secondly, we achieved satisfactory results by fitting the Lorentz peak distribution function to the SPAD values of different leaf positions in maize. The fitting performance, evaluated using R2 and RMSE, ranged from 0.69 to 0.98 and 0.45 to 3.59, respectively, for the year 2021, and from 0.69 to 0.77 and 2.38 to 6.51, respectively, for the year 2022.Finally, based on the correlation between canopy SPAD values and vegetation indices (VIs) at different growth stages, we identified the sensitive leaf positions for the selected CCCI (Canopy Chlorophyll Index) in each growth stage. The 6th (r = 0.662), 4th (r = 0.816), 12th (r = 0.722), and 12th (r = 0.874) leaf positions exhibited the highest correlations. Compared to the estimation model using canopy wide SPAD values, the model based on sensitive leaf positions showed improved accuracy, with increases of 34%, 3%, 20%, and 3% for each growth stage, respectively. In conclusion, the findings of this study contribute to the enhancement of chlorophyll content estimation models in crop canopies and provide valuable insights for the integration of crop growth models with remote sensing methods.
