A Novel Rind Puncture Technique to Measure Rind Thickness and Diameter in Plant Stalks

Seegmiller, Will; Graves, Jadzia; Robertson, Daniel J.

doi:10.21203/rs.2.19825/v1

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Most methods of measuring rind thickness require destructive sectioning and imaging procedures that induce plant fatality and thus prevent measurement of other important crop breeding metrics such as yield. Several nondestructive methods of measuring stalk rind thickness have been developed (e.g., x-ray computed tomography) but these methods are usually limited to laboratory or greenhouse settings and cannot easily be implemented in an agricultural field setting (e.g., (Mairhofer et al ., 2012; Robertson et al ., 2017; Seegmiller et al ., 2020)).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, bending strength was measured in three-point bending. Third, rind thickness was measured through rind penetration tests (Seegmiller et al ., 2020). Each stalk was then analyzed and an optimization algorithm was employed to determine the theoretical drag force profile that would produce the most uniform stresses along the entire length of the stalk.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A probe was briefly forced through the specimen at a rate of 25 mm/s, and the resulting force-displacement curve was analyzed using a custom MATLAB algorithm to calculate the rind thickness (t) of the stalk cross-section. Additional details on the rind penetration test protocol are documented in (Seegmiller et al ., 2020).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are Maize Stalks Efficiently Tapered to Withstand Wind Induced Bending Stresses?

Stubbs

Seegmiller

Sekhon

et al. 2020

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structural 19 Highlight: Maize stem morphology was investigated through an optimization algorithm to 20 determine how efficiently their structural tissues are allocated to withstand wind induced bending 21 stresses that cause stalk lodging.Abstract 24 Stalk lodging (breaking of agricultural plant stalks prior to harvest) results in millions of 25 dollars in lost revenue each year. Despite a growing body of literature on the topic of stalk lodging, 26the structural efficiency of maize stalks has not been investigated previously. In this study, we 27 investigate the morphology of mature maize stalks to determine if rind tissues, which are the major 28 load bearing component of corn stalks, are efficiently organized to withstand wind induced 29 bending stresses that cause stalk lodging. 30 945 fully mature, dried commercial hybrid maize stem specimens (48 hybrids, ~2 31 replicates, ~10 samples per plot) were subjected to: (1) three-point-bending tests to measure their 32 bending strength and (2) rind penetration tests to measure the cross-sectional morphology at each 33 internode. The data were analyzed through an engineering optimization algorithm to determine the 34 structural efficiency of the specimens. 35Hybrids with higher average bending strengths were found to allocate rind tissue more 36 efficiently than weaker hybrids. However, even strong hybrids were structurally suboptimal. 37There remains significant room for improving the structural efficiency of maize stalks. Results 38 also indicated that stalks are morphologically organized to resist wind loading that occurs primarily 39 above the ear. Results are applicable to selective breeding and crop management studies seeking 40 to reduce stalk lodging rates. 41 65 to devote to grain filling as compared to inefficient stalks (i.e., efficient stalks would have a higher 66 harvest index). 67As mentioned previously, both the taper and probable wind loading scenarios must be 68 defined to determine the structural efficiency of maize stalks. The wind load exerted on a plant 69 stalk, known as the drag force (Df), can be approximated as (Niklas, 2000):where ⍴ is the density of air, u is the local wind speed, Ap is the projected area of the structure, and 72 CD is the drag coefficient. While this equation appears fairly simple at first glance, it is 73 complicated by the fact that the variables on the right hand side of the equation are functions that 74 can vary both temporally and spatially. For example, the drag coefficient changes spatially along 75 the length of the stalk and is also a function of the local wind speed. As the local wind speed 76 increases, the angle of the leaf blades and tassel change (known as flagging), which alters the drag 77 coefficient. 78The strong interrelationships between the factors of Equation 1 complicate attempts to 79 directly measure wind forces on maize stalks. Direct measurements of wind speeds have 80 successfully been used to estimate drag forces in past studies of trees (Niklas and Spatz, 1999; 81 Niklas, 2000). However, t...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are Maize Stalks Efficiently Tapered to Withstand Wind Induced Bending Stresses?

Stubbs

Seegmiller

Sekhon

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Recently, a non-lethal and cost-effective method has been proposed by puncture test (Seegmiller et al, 2020) to quantify rind thickness and stalk diameter on poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). Nevertheless, standardization of this method (for instance, puncturing probe geometry) is required to carry out meta-analysis of the results obtained by several groups (Cook et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Maize Internode to Water Deficit Are Different at the Biochemical and Histological Levels

et al. 2021

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Maize feeding value is strongly linked to plant digestibility. Cell wall composition and structure can partly explain cell wall digestibility variations, and we recently showed that tissue lignification and lignin spatial distribution also contribute to cell wall digestibility variations. Although the genetic determinism of digestibility and cell wall composition has been studied for more than 20 years, little is available concerning that of tissue lignification. Moreover, maize yield is negatively impacted by water deficit, and we newly highlighted the impact of water deficit on cell wall digestibility and composition together with tissue lignification. Consequently, the aim of this study was to explore the genetic mechanisms of lignin distribution in link with cell wall composition and digestibility under contrasted water regimes. Maize internodes from a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population grown in field trials with contrasting irrigation scenarios were biochemically and histologically quantified. Results obtained showed that biochemical and histological traits have different response thresholds to water deficit. Histological profiles were therefore only modified under pronounced water deficit, while most of the biochemical traits responded whatever the strength of the water deficit. Three main clusters of quantitative trait locus (QTL) for histological traits were detected. Interestingly, overlap between the biochemical and histological clusters is rare, and one noted especially colocalizations between histological QTL/clusters and QTL for p-coumaric acid content. These findings reinforce the suspected role of tissue p-coumaroylation for both the agronomic properties of plants as well as their digestibility.

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“…The crosssectional morphology of stalks and in particular, morphological measurements including rind thickness and diameter are key determinants of stalk bending strength and lodging resistance (11)(12)(13)(14). However, current methods of measuring cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks are time consuming, and often require specialized equipment and expertise (15).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Throughput Phenotyping of Cross-sectional Morphology to Assess Stalk Lodging Resistance

Oduntan

Stubbs

Robertson

2021

Preprint

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Background Stalk lodging (mechanical failure of plant stems during windstorms) leads to global yield losses in cereal crops estimated to range from 5% - 25% annually. The cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks is a key determinant of stalk lodging resistance. However, previously developed techniques for quantifying cross-sectional morphology of plant stalks are relatively low-throughput, expensive and often require specialized equipment and expertise. There is need for a simple and cost-effective technique to quantify plant traits related to stalk lodging resistance in a high-throughput manner.Results A new phenotyping methodology was developed and applied to a range of plant samples including, maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), wheat (Triticum aestivum), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Arabidopsis (Arabis thaliana). The major diameter, minor diameter, rind thickness and number of vascular bundles were quantified for each of these plant types. Linear correlation analyses demonstrated strong agreement between the newly developed method and more time-consuming manual techniques (R2>0.9). In addition, the new method was used to generate several specimen-specific finite element models of plant stalks. All the models compiled without issue and were successfully imported into finite element software for analysis. All the models demonstrated reasonable and stable solutions when subjected to realistic applied loads.Conclusions A rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly phenotyping methodology was developed to quantify two-dimensional plant cross-sections. The methodology offers reduced sample preparation time and cost as compared to previously developed techniques. The new methodology employs a stereoscope and a semi-automated image processing algorithm. The algorithm can be used to produce specimen-specific, dimensionally accurate computational models (including finite element models) of plant stalks.

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A Novel Rind Puncture Technique to Measure Rind Thickness and Diameter in Plant Stalks

Cited by 4 publications

References 13 publications

Are Maize Stalks Efficiently Tapered to Withstand Wind Induced Bending Stresses?

Are Maize Stalks Efficiently Tapered to Withstand Wind Induced Bending Stresses?

Responses of Maize Internode to Water Deficit Are Different at the Biochemical and Histological Levels

High Throughput Phenotyping of Cross-sectional Morphology to Assess Stalk Lodging Resistance

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