Table 1.
Description of 20 traits obtained by high-throughput phenotypic measurement method and system.
| Traits | Abbreviations | Descriptions | Unit | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barren tip length | BTL | The projected length from the top of the ear to the furthest kernel on the ear. | cm | Traditional trait |
| Ear length | EL | Average ear height in each image after axial distortion correction. | cm | Traditional trait |
| Ear perimeter | EP | Average ear diameter calculated from image sequence using 2πr formula for circumference. | cm | Traditional trait |
| Ear width | EW | Average value of the diameter of ears. | cm | Traditional trait |
| Kernel number per ear | KNE | Total number of kernels on each ear of maize. | count | Traditional trait |
| Kernel number per row | KNR | Kernel count for the central row of maize ear is identified by selecting the highest count of kernels within the central area of the ear image. | count | Traditional trait |
| Row number per ear | RNE | Divide maize ear image into three paths from left to right, identify the number of kernel rows in each path, calculate the average, and use it as the final row count | count | Traditional trait |
| Average kernel area | AKA | Projected area of the kernel canopy after the kernels are spread out. | cm2 | Novel trait |
| Barren tip area | BTA | The surface area on top of the ear/cob without kernels. | cm2 | Novel trait |
| Ear B | EB | The mean blue (B) color channel value in the effective region of a maize ear. | – | Novel trait |
| Ear G | EG | The mean green (G) color channel value in the effective region of a maize ear. | – | Novel trait |
| Ear R | ER | The mean red (R) color channel value in the effective region of a maize ear. | – | Novel trait |
| Ear shape | ES | Uses a non-sphericity index to indicate the similarity of a maize ear’s shape to that of a sphere. | – | Novel trait |
| Ear surface area | ESA | Calculated using numerical integration to determine the surface area of a maize ear. | cm2 | Novel trait |
| Ear volume | EV | Calculated using numerical integration to determine the volume of a maize ear. | cm3 | Novel trait |
| Kernel B | KB | Mean value of the B color channel of kernels within the effective area. | – | Novel trait |
| Kernel G | KG | Mean value of the G color channel of kernels within the effective area. | – | Novel trait |
| Kernel R | KR | Mean value of the R color channel of kernels within the effective area. | – | Novel trait |
| Kernel thickness | KT | Average distance between adjacent kernels is considered as kernel thickness to determine distance between centers of adjacent kernels along the row kernel path. | cm | Novel trait |
| Kernel width | KW | Average length of the crown of the kernel. | cm | Novel trait |