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Journals / International Journal of Agriculture Forestry and Life Sciences / 2026 / Volume: 10 Issue: 2

INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES

Oğuzhan Önal(ESKISEHIR OSMANGAZI UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-8745-2488
İmren Kutlu(ESKISEHIR OSMANGAZI UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-3505-1479
Koç Mehmet Tuğrul(ESKISEHIR OSMANGAZI UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-2111-4050
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-07-20
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings suggest that breeding programs should prioritize the incorporation of vegetative transcriptional traits associated with effective canopy temperature homeostasis into elite genetic backgrounds.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Selecting ideal drought-tolerant wheat varieties requires a holistic synthesis of digital phenotypes, molecular markers, and agronomic indices.
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Key Findings & Data:This study evaluated 16 wheat genotypes for drought tolerance by integrating digital phenotyping (UAV-based thermal imaging), molecular data (DREB gene expression profiles), and 12 agronomic indices.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:These findings suggest that breeding programs should prioritize the incorporation of vegetative transcriptional traits associated with effective canopy temperature homeostasis into elite genetic backgrounds.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Transcriptional Regulation · Crop Water Stress · Digital Phenotyping

Abstract

Selecting ideal drought-tolerant wheat varieties requires a holistic synthesis of digital phenotypes, molecular markers, and agronomic indices. This study evaluated 16 wheat genotypes for drought tolerance by integrating digital phenotyping (UAV-based thermal imaging), molecular data (DREB gene expression profiles), and 12 agronomic indices. While vegetative DREB accumulation remained mostly homogeneous, the generative stage triggered pronounced transcriptional shifts, and late-stage thermal screening revealed highly significant genotypic differences during grain filling. A multivariate PCA biplot identified early canopy temperature differences during tillering (ΔCT_TL) as the most informative non-destructive selection indicator. ΔCT_TL showed a strong positive association with terminal yield stability metrics (YSI and RSI) and a marked negative relationship with the drought sensitivity index (SDI). This early canopy temperature regulation contributed to the maintenance of yield stability in the modern hexaploid variety MFTBY-T and advanced tetraploid lines OR2-T and OR4-S. In contrast, poorly adapted ancient varieties (P5-S and S3-S) exhibited high drought sensitivity accompanied by pronounced late-stage induction of DREB1 and DREB2, suggesting a delayed stress-response mechanism activated under severe tissue dehydration. Conversely, the modern tetraploid variety KZLTN-T and hexaploid landraces appeared to rely on an early vegetative molecular priming strategy. These findings suggest that breeding programs should prioritize the incorporation of vegetative transcriptional traits associated with effective canopy temperature homeostasis into elite genetic backgrounds.

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Cite This Article

Önal, O., Kutlu, İ., Tuğrul, K. M. (2026). INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES. International Journal of Agriculture Forestry and Life Sciences, Volume: 10 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.66598/ijafls.1964815

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