High throughput field phenotyping, 5 ECTS

The course is the third course in the NOVA PhD course series "Phenotyping Technologies in Plant-environment Interactions" with previous courses held in Sweden and Finland:

• 2018: Integrated Analysis of Omics Data, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
• 2019: Image Based Phenotyping, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
• 2020: High-throughput field phenotyping, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

The 2020 course at NMBU was postponed to 2021 due to covid-19. Since travel restrictions are still in place, it will be a fully digital course.

Course Description

The changing climate demands developing faster breeding methods to provide effective solutions for the future agriculture. This course aims to introduce the emerging research fields of high throughput plant phenotyping, with a focus on field phenotyping methodologies and related data analysis.

Content

The course aims to give an up-to-date overview of plant phenotyping technologies covering the scale from controlled conditions to outdoor field environments and pros and cons of different methodologies. A major focus in this course will be put on field phenotyping using robotic and UAV platforms and analysis of imaging data from field trials to answer biological questions. The objective of the course is to provide the participating students with the basic knowledge and understanding of the emerging fields of plant phenomics and data processing that can serve breeding efforts in modern agriculture.

Short Program Outline

Lectures
The following topics will be covered:

• Field phenotyping methodologies
• Data processing and analysis of UAV images from field trials
• Low-cost phenotyping methods
• Use of phenomics data in plant breeding and genetics research

Workshops with practical training in analysis of field phenotyping data.

Journal club: student presentations of pre-assigned literature in groups.

Pre-/Post-Course Week Assignments

Pre; literature studies on the course topics
Post; learning diaries based on lectures, writing a report from the phenotyping exercise in the course

Evaluation Elements

Active participation in assignments and workshops, presentation, submission of learning diaries and post-assignment (data analysis report).

Pedagogical Approach

Student activation by introductory pre-course assignments, in depth scientific lectures, data analysis workshops and post-course assignments that allow application of the gained knowledge.

Prerequisite Knowledge

MSc degree in a relevant field is required. Relevant fields: agriculture, biological and environmental sciences.

Learning outcomes

Participation in lectures and daily learning diaries (2 ECTS)

• knowledge about the whole range of analysis sensors available for plant phenotyping
• knowledge about standard data analysis pipelines for field phenotyping data
• gaining understanding of the opportunities and challenges in experimental design in plant phenotyping

Participation in the workshops (1 ECTS)

• gaining practical experience in analysis of field phenotyping data

Literature study, presentation and data analysis report as pre and post assignments (2 ECTS)

• gaining deeper understanding of the chosen biological process and chosen technology through own study
• application of gained knowledge in the writing of the data analysis report (post course assignment)