Use of thermal imaging and the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) to detect wheat response to elevated CO(2) and drought

The spectral‐based photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and leaf surface temperature (T (leaf)) derived from thermal imaging are two indicative metrics of plant functioning. The relationship of PRI with radiation‐use efficiency (RUE) and T (leaf) with leaf transpiration could be leveraged to monitor crop photosynthesis and water use from space. Yet, it is unclear how such relationships will change under future high carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO(2)]) and drought. Here we established an [CO(2)] enrichment experiment in which three wheat genotypes were grown at ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (550 ppm) [CO(2)] and exposed to well‐watered and drought conditions in two glasshouse rooms in two replicates. Leaf transpiration (T (r)) and latent heat flux (LE) were derived to assess evaporative cooling, and RUE was calculated from assimilation and radiation measurements on several dates along the season. Simultaneous hyperspectral and thermal images were taken at [Formula: see text] 1.5 m from the plants to derive PRI and the temperature difference between the leaf and its surrounding air ([Formula: see text] T (leaf−air)). We found significant PRI and RUE and [Formula: see text] T (leaf−air) and T (r) correlations, with no significant differences among the genotypes. A PRI–RUE decoupling was observed under drought at ambient [CO(2)] but not at elevated [CO(2)], likely due to changes in photorespiration. For a LE range of 350 W m(–2), the ΔT (leaf−air) range was [Formula: see text] 10°C at ambient [CO(2)] and only [Formula: see text] 4°C at elevated [CO(2)]. Thicker leaves in plants grown at elevated [CO(2)] suggest higher leaf water content and consequently more efficient thermoregulation at high [CO(2)] conditions. In general, T (leaf) was maintained closer to the ambient temperature at elevated [CO(2)], even under drought. PRI, RUE, ΔT (leaf) (−air), and T (r) decreased linearly with canopy depth, displaying a single PRI‐RUE and ΔT (leaf) (−air) T (r) model through the canopy layers. Our study shows the utility of these sensing metrics in detecting wheat responses to future environmental changes.