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2015.11.13 Phenomics Conference Report

2015.11.13 Phenomics Conference Report

Nov 13, 2015

Phenomics Conference

November 9-10, 2015 in Spokane, WA

http://bsyse.wsu.edu/faculty/sankaran/phenomics-conf/

Overview

The conference objectives were to identify the current status, gaps and future research needs for field-based, high throughput phenotyping to accelerate breeding efforts in grain and specialty crops. Another objective was to develop and share resources for phenotyping.

Participants

There were about 70 participants, primarily plant breeders with good representation of engineers developing sensors, about three people with data management expertise and one person who develops image analysis methods. People with expertise in statistical analysis methods were lacking.

I (Martha) gave a 20 minute overview of iPlant, including examples of how iPlant’s infrastructure is being leveraged by community members for their phenotyping efforts. I also participated in breakout discussions.

Take home points

Field-based phenotyping is a relatively young research area. There is a lot of sensor technology in trials for field phenomics, some with demonstrated use, but much of it is still being explored to determine if and how it can be put to good use for plant breeding and crop management.

Challenges the field phenomics community faces that are within iPlant’s scope include data movement, management and analysis. The data can be very large (TB or even more) and generated several times per week during the growing season. It is not clear how data will be moved from field sites to locations where it will be analyzed, or if it could be analyzed in the field. Analysis methods are largely remain to be developed.

How iPlant could help

A possible role for iPlant is to facilitate analysis method development by providing data storage for large test datasets and inviting tool developers to use Atmosphere for their methods development. We could also help organize online coding events for tool developers with breeders and growers providing feedback to developers. Supporting field phenotyping by engaging tool developers would help advance the field and expand iPlant’s effort to engage tool developers.

Conference Deliverables

  • A conference report will be submitted to the funders by the organizers.
  • A proposal (likely an RCN) will be submitted in February to enable the group to continue coordinating their efforts.