Relationship between Flag Leaf Reflectance and Canopy Temperature in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Cultivars under Stressed and Irrigated Conditions

Abstract:

Optical technologies can be developed as practical tools for monitoring plant health by providing unique spectral signatures that can be related to specific plant stresses. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine differences in canopy temperature and leaf reflectance of different durum wheat under both well-watered and moisture stressed conditions and (ii) evaluate the relationships between canopy temperature and leaf reflectance at Red and Blue (RB) wavelength. We use numerical image analysis by Mesurim Pro (Version 3.3) softwarefor estimate leaf reflectance at Red and Blue (RB) wavelength.In this study irrigation treatments affect significantly flag leaf reflectance at RB and canopy temperature. Significant correlations were registered between leaf reflectance and canopy temperature under both conditions irrigated and non irrigated; these best correlations proved the efficiency of using leaf reflectance at RB in screening for drought tolerance in durum wheat cultivars.