Drone
technology
is simplifying how researchers can evaluate drought resilience in genetically altered maize plants, aiding in the creation of improved and hardier varieties.
Increasing worldwide temperatures coupled with prolonged dry spells have significantly affected agricultural output, prompting researchers to broaden their crop breeding initiatives. Nevertheless, assessments conducted under
stressful conditions
can prove intricate and expensive, as stated by a
scientific study
on the topic.
To overcome these challenges, scientists tested employing open-source software along with a DJI Mavic 3M drone fitted with both RGB and multispectral cameras to photograph experimental fields at various points in time.
“Conducting ongoing assessments at various points throughout the plant’s lifecycle was crucial for understanding their response to water stress. This also allowed us to forecast how these plants would perform in different regions,” said Juliana Yassitepe, who works as a researcher at the Genomics for
Climate Change
Research Center in Brazil,
according
as summarized on Phys.org.
The crops tested included 21 varieties of corn, with three conventional types and 18 genetically modified to overexpress genes related to
water-stress resistance
As outlined in the article, they split them into two groups: one group received irrigation, while the other faced drought conditions.
The drone flyovers resulted in 290 images. Some used the multispectral sensor, which could capture non-visible light, like infrared, while the cheaper RGB sensor stuck to its namesake light bands.
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The study revealed that less expensive RGB images proved to be more dependable and precise. By integrating these images with traditional field measurements, the team managed to establish indicators for water stress and supplied this information as input for artificial intelligence systems.
“The prediction accuracies achieved by machine learning models using RGB data showed promising applications. Some vegetation indices reflected how plants changed under drought and correlated highly with the assessed traits,” the study
detailed
.
The importance of protecting staple crops like corn can’t be overstated. They play a key role in human consumption, animal feed, and the production of
biofuels
. Farmers are increasingly relying on
innovative technologies
To boost agricultural output as the weather patterns shift.
A research conducted at Pennsylvania State University assessing
18 warming scenarios
by 2090 it was determined that reduced corn crop yields are unavoidable with increasing temperatures, leading to this conclusion.
type of research
invaluable.
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“Climate change is indeed happening – that’s the core truth,” stated Suat Irmak, who serves as both a professor and the chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering within the College of Agricultural Sciences. “It’s crucial for us to grasp how these changes could affect our country’s policies and food production.”
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Scientists uncover genetic breakthrough that could reshape global food supply: ‘Essential to understand’
first appeared on
The Cool Down
.
