CSIRO researchers deploy hyperspectral cameras to screen wheat plants

Invisible plant weaknesses become visible

Senior experimental scientist Aswin Singaram Natarajan notes that human eyes can deceive observers regarding plant health. A plant may appear green and vital while losing excessive energy or water to drought. Hyperspectral cameras split light into hundreds of narrow bands ranging from 350 to 2,500 nanometers. This range stretches from ultraviolet deep into infrared, covering more than seven times the human visual spectrum. Each leaf reflects these bands differently depending on internal conditions, leaving a fingerprint the camera can read.

Project targets photosynthesis and grain filling

The team on AcceleTraitPlus aims to deliver more robust and abundant wheat varieties for Australian growers. Researchers are chasing optimized photosynthesis and respiration rates alongside the rate of grain filling. Grain filling is assessed manually by visiting a trial site between 10 and 12 times throughout the season. Breeders normally focus on yield, but these characteristics reveal why one variety copes with extreme heat better. The Grains Research and Development Corporation invests in this research to help develop higher yield potential.

GRDC supports faster breeding methods

Jessica Hyles from the Grains Research and Development Corporation states the agency invests in research for better water use. The team explores whether phenomics could do this work faster by reading traits from hyperspectral signatures. Dr Anton Wasson notes significant investment exists in plant physiology but very little has focused on these sensors. It is vital to test tools alongside a commercial breeding partner so that they remain practical for use. Ultimately, growers will have varieties with higher yield potential and more reliable field performance.