Predicting Lodging in Sorghum Breeding Trials Using Phenomic and Genomic Approaches
Abstract
Lodging reduces sorghum yield stability, especially under water stress during grain filling. However, breeding for lodging resistance is limited by labour-intensive, time-consuming, and inconsistent manual scoring. This study developed a UAV-based framework to predict plot-level lodging, validated it against manual scores at the genotype level, and tested whether time-series UAV phenotypes improve genomic prediction. UAV images collected at flowering, maximum crop height, and lodging assessment were used to derive height percentiles and temporal change predictors. The ensemble naïve model performed better, explaining 67% of lodging variation. UAV and manual measurements showed high genetic correlations, with similar selection outcomes.
Srinivasa Reddy Mothukuri
Mr Srinivasa Reddy Mothukuri studied Integrated Plant and Animal Breeding at the University of Göttingen in Germany. His master’s thesis was conducted at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, focusing on sparse phenotyping strategies and genomic prediction in maize. His PhD research at QAAFI focuses on developing novel approaches to improve lodging resistance in sorghum breeding trials. His work includes developing a UAV-based framework to estimate lodging at the plot level, validating its application in breeding programs, and exploring whether time-series phenotypic information can improve genomic prediction compared with single end-point phenotypes
Srinivasa Reddy Mothukuri, Centre for Crop Sciences, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Agriculture and Food Innovation E: s.mothukuri@uq.edu.au
For any questions, please contact the QAAFI Science Seminar Committee.
For any questions, please contact the QAAFI Science Seminar Committee.
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Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation hosts science seminars across the disciplines of animal, horticulture, crop, food and nutritional sciences.
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The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland, established with and supported by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.