HOW: Arable’s telemetry allows for correlation between precipitation events, relative humidity, dew point, leaf wetness, and temperatures, as well as diurnal thermal amplitude as a determinant for tolerance to fungal pathogens and disease pressure. We take a novel approach to data collection by using an acoustic disdrometer that measures raindrops by the sound they make.
WHY: We validate these baseline indicators to understand relative genetic performance between growing locations.
HOW: With infrared thermometers sensing canopy temperature, we can provide hourly readings against ambient air temperature.
WHY: With this, we can better understand drought tolerance, plant water levels, and transpiration rates. In parallel with understanding trait selection in water-limited conditions, it is critical to explore the impact of dehydration during specific crop growth stages to select and advance high-yielding varieties.
HOW: Using a seven-band spectrometer, we can detect photosynthetic capacity or related deficiencies, and help monitor canopy architecture, size, and morphology. We monitor longwave and shortwave solar irradiance through onboard radiometric measurements.
WHY: Changes in leaf greenness can be used to identify changes in the plant development process affected by plant nutrition and environmental stressors. Daily values captured at solar noon provide valuable information on growth rates, stay-green characteristics, and yield, as well as onset and progress of senescence in different climates. We hypothesize that our spectral data set will detect key deviations in performance between cultivars, specifically looking at the ability to monitor disease resistance,pathogen presence, drought tolerance, delayed senescence and increasing yield.
HOW: We track accumulated heat units.
WHY: Breeders can evaluate variety-specific plant performance at different growth stages and understand pest and disease resistance under varying environmental conditions.