Enhanced climate change resilience on wheat anther morphology using optimized deep learning techniques

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Biology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Climate change-induced temperature increases threaten global food security by reducing wheat yields.
• Terminal heat stress significantly impacts wheat spike fertility, affecting pollen viability and anther development.
• Understanding anther morphology variations is crucial for breeding climate-resilient wheat varieties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of heat stress on wheat anther morphology using high-resolution imaging.
• To evaluate the efficacy of Deep Learning (DL) algorithms for categorizing agricultural records and monitoring spring wheat germplasm.
• To identify optimal DL models for enhancing plant breeding management and understanding abiotic stress tolerance.

Main Methods:

• High-resolution images from a DinoLite Microscope were used to measure wheat anther dimensions (length and width) via object identification.
• Multiple Deep Learning algorithms, including Convolution Neural Network (CNN), LeNet, and Inception-V3, were implemented for record classification.
• Performance metrics such as Precision, Recall, and F1 Measure were employed to assess classification accuracy.

Main Results:

• LeNet demonstrated superior accuracy in classifying wheat germplasm records, outperforming CNN by 52% and Inception-V3 by 70%.
• Object identification techniques accurately measured anther dimensions, revealing varietal differences under heat stress.
• The study provided insights into the genetic basis of abiotic stress tolerance in different wheat varieties.

Conclusions:

• Deep Learning, particularly LeNet, offers a powerful, data-driven approach for enhancing agricultural record categorization and plant breeding management.
• Accurate measurement of anther morphology using imaging and DL can aid in identifying wheat varieties with improved heat stress tolerance.
• This research contributes to developing more resilient wheat germplasm, crucial for ensuring food security in a changing climate.