RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Classifying cold stress responses of inbred maize seedlings using RGB imaging
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 432039
DO 10.1101/432039
A1 Tara A. Enders
A1 Susan St. Dennis
A1 Justin Oakland
A1 Steven T. Callen
A1 Malia A. Gehan
A1 Nathan D. Miller
A1 Edgar P. Spalding
A1 Nathan M. Springer
A1 Cory D. Hirsch
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/10/11/432039.abstract
AB Increasing the tolerance of maize seedlings to low temperature episodes could mitigate the effects of increasing climate variability on yield. To aid progress toward this goal, we established a growth chamber-based system for subjecting seedlings of 40 maize inbred genotypes to a defined, temporary cold stress while collecting digital profile images over a 9-day time course. Image analysis performed with PlantCV software quantified shoot height, shoot area, 14 other morphological traits, and necrosis identified by color analysis. Hierarchical clustering of changes in growth rates of morphological traits and quantification of leaf necrosis over two time intervals resulted in three clusters of genotypes, which are characterized by unique responses to cold stress. For any given genotype, the set of traits with similar growth rates is unique. However, the patterns among traits are different between genotypes. Cold sensitivity was not correlated with the latitude where the inbred varieties were released suggesting potential further improvement for this trait. This work will serve as the basis for future experiments investigating the genetic basis of recovery to cold stress in maize seedlings.