Functional phenomics: an emerging field integrating high-throughput phenotyping, physiology, and bioinformatics

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Genetics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Physiology is undergoing a 21st-century rebirth as functional phenomics.
• Significant knowledge gaps persist in understanding the plant phenotype-function relationship.
• Advanced sensing technologies and big data analytics are key drivers of this evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a general theory and practice for functional phenomics.
• To introduce the functional phenomics pipeline for conceptualizing, measuring, and validating plant phenes.
• To bridge the gap between plant phenotype and function.

Main Methods:

• Ideotype development and phenotyping platform creation for high-throughput phene measurement.
• Measurement of target phenes and plant performance indicators in mapping populations.
• Integration of forward genetics for genetic mapping and functional phenomics for linking phenes to performance.

Main Results:

• The functional phenomics pipeline provides a structured method for research.
• Genotypes with contrasting phenotypes can be selected for in-depth study of phene-environment interactions.
• Simulation modeling aids in understanding phenotypes.

Conclusions:

• Functional phenomics represents a novel research program, evolving from existing disciplines.
• The methodology enables a deeper understanding of plant function and performance.
• This approach facilitates the development of improved crop ideotypes through precise phene validation.