LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE OF MAIZE CANOPY TO DETERMINE BIOMASS AND CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION AT EARLY STAGES OF PLANT GROWTH

The assessment of a large number of genotypes in multi-location field trials requires the development of suitable methods that allow efficient collection of phenotypic data. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of canopy laser-induced fluorescence (CLIF) as a method to evaluate early growth of maize in field trails. Our objectives were to (i) assess the heritability of CLIF, (ii) determine the association of CLIF with fresh biomass (FB) and chlorophyll concentration (CC), and (iii) investigate the influence of plant developmental stage and type of genetic material (hybrids and inbreds) on the relation of CLIF with FB and CC. Ten single cross maize hybrids and ten inbreds were evaluated at three locations in South Germany during 2006. FB was determined by chopping and weighing. A handheld chlorophyll-meter was used to measure CC. CLIF was measured with tractor-mounted sensors. The heritability of CLIF was lower than of FB and CC. CLIF showed high phenotypic and genotypic correlations with FB. Type of genetic material affected phenotypic and genotypic correlations between CLIF and CC. Laser-induced fluorescence of maize canopy is a promising technology for the assessment of plant growth at early stages of plant development in field trails of breeding programs.