314
limitations, and stress factors (see Cavender-Bares et al., Chap. 2). The interaction
of the genotype with its environment give rise to the functional and structural traits
of plants and their specific phenotype (Großkinsky et al. 2015a, b; Pieruschka and
Lawson 2015). Insights into the role of genotype and phenotype in plant stress physiology can be gained not only from recording individual plant spectral trait-stress
factor interactions but also by including the entire genotype-epigenetic-phenotypeenvironment matrix (Mittler and Blumwald 2010). This can be achieved by recording phenotypical plant traits in plant phenomics facilities (Furbank 2009; Großkinsky
et al. 2015a, b) (see Fig. 13.2c). Due to the high number of plant species, plant
phenomics facilities have been established all over the world that collaborate as part
of the International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN, http://www.plant-phenotyping.org/), where in an automated and often robotic manner, noninvasive measurement methods such as RS techniques are implemented, enabling a holistic and
quantitative recording of the phenotype of a plant over its entire development period
at a reasonable cost (Ehrhardt and Frommer 2012; Fiorani and Schurr 2013).
Plant phenomics facilities thus include comparable analyses of genotypephenotype interactions under experimental as well as natural growth conditions.
The goal of plant phenomics facilities is to implement and develop innovative noninvasive measurement methods and RS techniques such as stereo hyperspectral,
RGB, thermal, and fluorescence cameras, laser scanning instruments, or x-ray
tomographs (Fiorani and Schurr 2013). Data from such facilities are then saved in
databases (Krajewski et al. 2015) to make such information available for future
research with airborne and spaceborne RS applications.
With plant phenomics facilities, crucial investigations have been carried out on
the effects of different plant stresses on photosynthetic performance (Jansen et al.
2009; Konishi et al. 2009; Rascher 2007). This research on chlorophyll fluorescence
and its acquisition using spectroscopic techniques forms the basis for developing
the Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) sensors (Kraft et al. 2012; Rascher 2007;
Rascher et al. 2015). On the basis of its very high spectral resolution of 0.3–3.0 μm,
FLEX will be the first satellite that is able to directly measure the solar-induced
chlorophyll fluorescence and thus the stress levels in plants and other types of vegetation using RS.
13.2.1.3 Ecotrons
Ecotrons are controlled environmental facilities (see Fig. 13.2d) for the investigation of plant and animal populations and ecosystem processes under near-natural
conditions using noninvasive methods (Lawton et al. 1993; Türke et al. 2017). They
differ from greenhouse experiments because not only plant populations, but interactions between plant and animal populations, can be investigated. Furthermore, ecotrons enable investigations of aboveground and belowground interactions, which
drive the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem function
(Eisenhauer 2018).
A. Lausch et al.
limitations, and stress factors (see Cavender-Bares et al., Chap. 2). The interaction
of the genotype with its environment give rise to the functional and structural traits
of plants and their specific phenotype (Großkinsky et al. 2015a, b; Pieruschka and
Lawson 2015). Insights into the role of genotype and phenotype in plant stress physiology can be gained not only from recording individual plant spectral trait-stress
factor interactions but also by including the entire genotype-epigenetic-phenotypeenvironment matrix (Mittler and Blumwald 2010). This can be achieved by recording phenotypical plant traits in plant phenomics facilities (Furbank 2009; Großkinsky
et al. 2015a, b) (see Fig. 13.2c). Due to the high number of plant species, plant
phenomics facilities have been established all over the world that collaborate as part
of the International Plant Phenotyping Network (IPPN, http://www.plant-phenotyping.org/), where in an automated and often robotic manner, noninvasive measurement methods such as RS techniques are implemented, enabling a holistic and
quantitative recording of the phenotype of a plant over its entire development period
at a reasonable cost (Ehrhardt and Frommer 2012; Fiorani and Schurr 2013).
Plant phenomics facilities thus include comparable analyses of genotypephenotype interactions under experimental as well as natural growth conditions.
The goal of plant phenomics facilities is to implement and develop innovative noninvasive measurement methods and RS techniques such as stereo hyperspectral,
RGB, thermal, and fluorescence cameras, laser scanning instruments, or x-ray
tomographs (Fiorani and Schurr 2013). Data from such facilities are then saved in
databases (Krajewski et al. 2015) to make such information available for future
research with airborne and spaceborne RS applications.
With plant phenomics facilities, crucial investigations have been carried out on
the effects of different plant stresses on photosynthetic performance (Jansen et al.
2009; Konishi et al. 2009; Rascher 2007). This research on chlorophyll fluorescence
and its acquisition using spectroscopic techniques forms the basis for developing
the Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) sensors (Kraft et al. 2012; Rascher 2007;
Rascher et al. 2015). On the basis of its very high spectral resolution of 0.3–3.0 μm,
FLEX will be the first satellite that is able to directly measure the solar-induced
chlorophyll fluorescence and thus the stress levels in plants and other types of vegetation using RS.
13.2.1.3 Ecotrons
Ecotrons are controlled environmental facilities (see Fig. 13.2d) for the investigation of plant and animal populations and ecosystem processes under near-natural
conditions using noninvasive methods (Lawton et al. 1993; Türke et al. 2017). They
differ from greenhouse experiments because not only plant populations, but interactions between plant and animal populations, can be investigated. Furthermore, ecotrons enable investigations of aboveground and belowground interactions, which
drive the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem function
(Eisenhauer 2018).
A. Lausch et al.