UTILIZING BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING METHODOLOGIES, AND DEVICES TO AID IN PLANT SCIENTISTS IN QUANTIFYING CROP LODGING RESISTANCE

Crop lodging is a persistent biomechanical problem that has plagued agronomists for over a century. However, the full breadth and power of biomechanical engineering methods have yet to be applied to this problem. The proposed work will:1) Make standard biomechanical engineering practices (and common pitfalls) for acquiring biomechanical phenotypes readily available to the plant science community.Research and validate the best biomechanical engineering practicesDocument said practices include manufacturing plans for fixtures and methodsCombine all details into a handbookPublish said handbook2) Develop an understanding of intermediate component phenotypes related to stalk lodging resistance.Utilize multiscale biomechanical engineering models to develop understandingCreate model for accurately inputting missing data using engineering modelsNormalize the data set to allow for statistical models to be made3) Improve the abilityof assesing stalk rot in maizeDevelop a field deploying phenotyping device to non-destructively assesses stalk integrity and lodging resistance.Meet with Syngenta to discuss the deviceContinuously make improvements of deviceimproving device ergonomics with the end goal of one hand usereduction in size and weightincreased safety stops to prevent pinching of the users hand or fingerredesign of electronics package to increase reliability, quality control and repeatability of measurements etc.