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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » WHGQ » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #428401
Research Project: Ecology and Genomics of Soilborne Pathogens, Beneficial Microbes, and the Microbiome of Wheat, Barley, and Biofuel Brassicas

Location: Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality Research

Title: Digital morphological data can generate accurate pre-emergence herbicide dose-response curves in Chenopodium album L

Author
item Landau, Olivia
item BORGES, JESUS - Washington State University
item NA-AH, RAISSA - Washington State University
item PERACCHI, LUIGI - Washington State University
item SANCHEZ-IZURIETA, FRANCO - Washington State University

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2026
Publication Date: 4/21/2026
Citation: Landau, O.A., Borges, J.L., Na-Ah, R., Peracchi, L., Sanchez-Izurieta, F. 2026. Digital morphological data can generate accurate pre-emergence herbicide dose-response curves in Chenopodium album L. Frontiers in Plant Science. 17.Article 1779398. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1779398.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1779398

Interpretive Summary: Herbicide dose-response experiments were implemented with Chenopodium album L. (common lambsquarters) using pre-emegenece herbicides, atrazine and fomesafen, to assess the accuracy and utility of data collected by the Phenospex TraitFinder, a digital phenotyping system. Manually collected plant height and fresh biomass data were compared to corresponding digitally collected data. High positive correlations (r = 0.97, P < 0.05) were identified between digitally collected data and their equivalent manual measurements. Additionally, 3D leaf area, digital biomass, convex hull area, projected leaf area, and voxel volume total generated highly similar dose-response curves and growth reduction 50 estimates relative to fresh biomass data, which indicates that these digitally collected parameters could be utilized instead of manually collecting fresh biomass. Without requiring manual biomass collection, turnaround time for these commonly implemented experiments decreases and allows for faster sharing of research to stakeholders.

Technical Abstract: Dose-response (DR) assays are routinely implemented to compare herbicide resistance among weed biotypes, which requires plant biomass to estimate growth reduction 50 (GR50). The Phenospex TraitFinder is a digital phenotyping system that eliminates manual collection of fresh biomass (FB). However, comparisons of digitally and manually collected data for DR assays have not been performed. Thus, this study sought to compare digitally and manually collected data and assess the utility of all 20 Phenospex TraitFinder parameters in DR assays. To address these objectives, pre-emergence DR assays using fomesafen and atrazine were implemented with a sensitive population of Chenopodium album L. (common lambsquarters). Digitally collected biomass (digital biomass; DB) and plant height (PH) were compared to manual measurements of FB and PH. High positive correlations (r = 0.97, P < 0.05) consistently occurred between digitally collected data and their equivalent manual measurements. Among the Phenospex TraitFinder parameters, 3D Leaf Area, DB, Convex Hull Area, Projected Leaf Area, and Voxel Volume Total generated highly similar DR curves and GR50 estimates relative to FB data. Significant differences between manual and digital PH measurements were identified with the Student’s t-test, but these differences do not impact DB measurements. The Phenospex TraitFinder provides accurate, non-destructive biomass collection for C. album seedlings. Without requiring manual biomass collection, labor and turnaround time for DR and other phenotyping assays decreases. Furthermore, herbicide-resistant plants can be preserved for phenotyping at later growth stages, tissue collection, and to produce progeny for future genomic experiments.