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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #316147
Title: Fine phenotyping of pod and seed traits in Arachis germplasm accessions using digital image analysis

Author
item WU, CONGLING - University Of Georgia
item GILL, RATTANDEEP - University Of Georgia
item CHU, YE - University Of Georgia
item Holbrook, Carl - Corley
item OZIAS-AKINS, PEGGY - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Peanut Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2015
Publication Date: 7/1/2015
Citation: Wu, C., Gill, R., Chu, Y., Holbrook Jr, C.C., Ozias-Akins, P. 2015. Fine phenotyping of pod and seed traits in Arachis germplasm accessions using digital image analysis. Peanut Science. 42:65-73.

Interpretive Summary: Reliable phenotyping (measurement of traits) is crucial for successful plant breeding programs. An ideal phenotyping method is robust, repeatable, resource-efficient, objective, non-destructive, and reliable. The objective of this study was to develop useful and efficient methods to phenotype peanut pod and seed traits. A digital image analysis method was developed to measure pod volume using pod area as an effective surrogate parameter. A hue angle analysis was used to objectively measure testa color.

Technical Abstract: Reliable and objective phenotyping of peanut pod and seed traits is important for cultivar selection and genetic mapping of yield components. To develop useful and efficient methods to quantitatively define peanut pod and seed traits, a group of peanut germplasm with high levels of phenotypic variation was included in this study. Digital image analysis was employed to quantify peanut pod volume using pod area as an effective surrogate parameter. Strong correlation between pod volume measured by water displacement and image analysis was established (R2 = 0.891). Pod volume, pod density and kernel percent were found to vary significantly among the germplasm lines. To define testa color, hue angle analysis was performed on a subset of germplasm with solid testa color. It was found that hue angle can sufficiently differentiate genotypic differences based on testa color variation.