ABSTRACT
The plant phenotype (plant performance and appearance) is determined by its genetic composition (genotype) and the environment it grows in. The plants growing in different environments can have different phenotypes even though their genotype being the same. Normally, the study of the traits (morphological appearance) can take many days, weeks, or even months depending on the life cycle of the plant. However, with phenomics science (study of phenotyping) by automated technology and imaging systems in combination with high efficiency computing machines can be accomplished in seconds. This approach of rapid phenotyping would enable plant breeders to select crop varieties with high yield and field performance. Thus, the varieties with different qualitative and quantitative traits (such as abiotic better stress tolerant, biotic stress resistance, and photosynthetic efficient) could be available in shorter period of time, rather than in decades. This is of utmost importance in terms of food and fuel requirements for the ever-increasing population which is going to double in next 50 years. Moreover, there is a growing concern about the global climate changes and there is a need to select and identify plants which can adapt to varied environmental changes.
