Viability of Depth Cameras and LiDAR as Phenotyping Platforms for Biomass in Cassava (Manihot esculenta) and Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum)
Abstract
Changing demands for sustainable food and fuel sources will be the major driver of agriculture in the 21st Century, especially as the world population reaches its estimated carrying capacity. Efficient plant breeding methods to keep up with these demands will require innovative solutions to keep the process fast, accurate, and inexpensive. While terrestrial laser scanning and other forms of LiDAR have shown promise in making this need a reality, the cost of adopting this technology is too high for breeders who are not working with large budgets. This dissertation seeks to determine the viability of several phenotyping methods for improving two crops that will continue to be of critical importance in the developing world: Cassava and Napier grass. Through laboratory and field trials we will test the ability of multiple sensors to created 3D models of plant structure that can then be correlated to biomass in these crops. Additionally, we will test these methods using a custom-made phenotyping platform that can be easily reconstructed for use in a variety of breeding programs.
Citation
Adams, Tyler Morgan (2020). Viability of Depth Cameras and LiDAR as Phenotyping Platforms for Biomass in Cassava (Manihot esculenta) and Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum). Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /192865.