AI and Drones Identify Most Resilient Wheat Varieties

Researchers at the University of Barcelona and the Agrotecnio research centre have integrated artificial intelligence and drone-based multi-sensor phenotyping to identify durum wheat varieties capable of withstanding climate change. The study focuses on maintaining yield stability under the fluctuating environmental conditions of the Mediterranean region, where rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns threaten consistent crop production.

The research, published in the journal Plant Phenomics, proposes a paradigm shift in how staple crops are selected. Rather than prioritizing maximum yield potential alone, the team emphasized the importance of yield stability, which is critical for safeguarding food security amid climate volatility.

Technical Methodology and Sensor Integration

To determine which genotypes blend high productivity with robust performance, the research team analyzed 64 diverse genotypes of durum wheat. These varieties were cultivated under two contrasting field regimes: irrigated and rain-fed systems.

The study utilized advanced remote sensing technologies to monitor crop development throughout the entire growing cycle. The researchers deployed drones outfitted with a suite of cameras, including:

• RGB sensors
• Multispectral sensors
• Thermal sensors

These drone-based tools were used in conjunction with ground-based sensors to conduct non-invasive, high-throughput monitoring. This technological combination allows researchers to obtain key information about the wheat before the harvest occurs, which reduces the costs and time required for the study by eliminating the need for premature harvesting.

Key Findings on Crop Resilience

The study revealed that the markers for resilience were different than previously expected. The researchers found that the most resilient varieties were not those that retained green leaves the longest until the end of the season.

Instead, the genotypes that combined high yields with stable performance across variable environments were those that grew vigorously at the start of the season and matured slightly earlier. Conversely, the rejected lines exhibited low initial vigor and retained their green leaves for a longer duration, a trait that did not guarantee a better yield.

The findings suggest that this specific combination of initial productivity and stability is the key to ensuring reliable harvests under variable environmental conditions, such as differences in temperature and water availability.

The research was conducted by a collaborative team including Jara Jauregui-Besó, José Luis Araus, and Shawn Carlisle Kefauver from the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Biology and Agrotecnio.

Further contributions were provided by Nieves Aparicio and Sara Álvarez from the Agro-technological Institute of Castilla y León (ITACyL), as well as María Teresa Nieto-Taladriz from the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC).