Estimating Grain and Biomass Yield of Bread Wheat Genotypes by Optical Sensors

Use of optical sensors in wheat breeding programs can provide convenience in predicting the grain and biomass yield. In this study, optical sensors were used to estimate the grain and biomass yield of different wheat genotypes. Field trials were conducted with 49 wheat genotypes in three different WST (full irrigation (FI), supplementary irrigation (SI), and rainfed) in Central Anatolia (Eskisehir Province) in the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. The genotypes were significantly different in grain yield, biomass weight (BM), LAI, and NDVI, SPAD ZD 55 (SPAD measured on ZD 55) was the most critical variable to predict grain yield, it was significantly correlated with grain yield in all three water supply conditions. Similarly to SPAD ZD 55, NDVI ZD 31, and LAI ZD 41 were the most significant attributes to predict BM in all three water supply cases. Multiple linear regression equation developed using independent variables of SPAD ZD 55, NDVI ZD 60, NDVI ZD 31, and NDVI ZD 24 described 52 % of the total variation in grain yield of 49 genotypes. The genotypes were highly consistent in the relationship between grain yield and SPAD ZD 55 and the relationship between BM and LAI ZD 41 in all three water supply cases. The results were promising to predict grain yield of highly different wheat genotypes under different water supply regimes. However, more research is needed to conceptualize relationships between yield and sensor measured variables in wheat genotypes across different environments and soil settings.