Potapova V.A., Morev D.V.

Assessment of the content of spring wheat pigments at different phenological phases using portable spectroradiometers

In the study, 2 portable spectroradiometers were compared to assess the content of pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids) in the leaves of spring wheat, as well as the possibility of isolating phenological phases according to the indications of light absorption. Absorption measurements were carried out using CropTalker+ and SpectraPen mini in 12 wavelengths (from 450 nm to 860 nm) in relative values. The devices were tested at 16 points in 4 phenological phases: tillering, earing, flowering and milk ripeness. In mixed samples, concentrations of chlorophylls and carotenoids in mg/g of dry weight were determined from each sampling point. Regression dependences were found between the readings of absorption, reflection and the content of chlorophylls, carotenoids (R2= 0.73–0.77 for the sum of chlorophylls and R2= 0.37–0.41 for carotenoids). Significant differences were also found between the average readings of absorption and reflection in different phenological phases.

Keywords: CHLOROPHYLL, SPECTRORADIOMETER, PHENOLOGICAL PHASES, SPRING WHEAT, SPECTROMETER, CAROTENOIDS, PIGMENTS