Phenomics and physiological screens
The work package will develop and validate standardized protocols for state-of-the art phenotypic screens available within the consortium to be deployed in FE2 and FE3 in the UK and FE1, FE2 and FE3 in India. Additionally, a novel high-throughput mobile platform will be developed focusing on hyperspectral radiometric signatures. The phenotypic screens developed will comprise three strands:
1. Physiological screens
Physiological screens will be conducted on root, canopy, grain and biomass traits. Correlation and regression analyses will be used to validate relationships between grain yield, biomass NUE and NUE components. Inter-laboratory comparisons will be carried out by way of quality assurance and capacity strengthening.
2. High-throughput mobile reflectance spectroscopy screens
Several options for mobile multispectral and hyperspectral radiometers will be evaluated. Validation measurements will include grain yield, biomass, NUE and NUE components at harvest and assessment of multispectral and hyperspectral reflectance using hand-held spectroradiometers. In year 3, the most promising of the trialled mobile platforms will be deployed in the field experiments in the UK and India.
3. Plant compositional analysis screens
Standardized protocols will be developed in for high-throughput analysis for N and other mineral nutrients (S, P, micronutrients), to enable the analysis of interactions between N and other nutrients on crop growth at low N status.