Research Article

INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES

Volume: 10 Number: 2 July 20, 2026

INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES

Abstract

Selecting ideal drought-tolerant wheat varieties requires a holistic synthesis of digital phenotypes, molecular markers, and agronomic indices. This study evaluated 16 wheat genotypes for drought tolerance by integrating digital phenotyping (UAV-based thermal imaging), molecular data (DREB gene expression profiles), and 12 agronomic indices. While vegetative DREB accumulation remained mostly homogeneous, the generative stage triggered pronounced transcriptional shifts, and late-stage thermal screening revealed highly significant genotypic differences during grain filling. A multivariate PCA biplot identified early canopy temperature differences during tillering (ΔCT_TL) as the most informative non-destructive selection indicator. ΔCT_TL showed a strong positive association with terminal yield stability metrics (YSI and RSI) and a marked negative relationship with the drought sensitivity index (SDI). This early canopy temperature regulation contributed to the maintenance of yield stability in the modern hexaploid variety MFTBY-T and advanced tetraploid lines OR2-T and OR4-S. In contrast, poorly adapted ancient varieties (P5-S and S3-S) exhibited high drought sensitivity accompanied by pronounced late-stage induction of DREB1 and DREB2, suggesting a delayed stress-response mechanism activated under severe tissue dehydration. Conversely, the modern tetraploid variety KZLTN-T and hexaploid landraces appeared to rely on an early vegetative molecular priming strategy. These findings suggest that breeding programs should prioritize the incorporation of vegetative transcriptional traits associated with effective canopy temperature homeostasis into elite genetic backgrounds.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Eskişehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit

Project Number

Project No. FOA-2024-3007

Ethical Statement

No ethical approval was required for this study.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Field Crops and Pasture Production (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 20, 2026

Submission Date

June 5, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 2

APA
Önal, O., Kutlu, İ., & Tuğrul, K. M. (2026). INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES. International Journal of Agriculture Forestry and Life Sciences, 10(2), 76-87. https://doi.org/10.66598/ijafls.1964815
AMA
1.Önal O, Kutlu İ, Tuğrul KM. INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES. Int J Agric For Life Sci. 2026;10(2):76-87. doi:10.66598/ijafls.1964815
Chicago
Önal, Oğuzhan, İmren Kutlu, and Koç Mehmet Tuğrul. 2026. “INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES”. International Journal of Agriculture Forestry and Life Sciences 10 (2): 76-87. https://doi.org/10.66598/ijafls.1964815.
EndNote
Önal O, Kutlu İ, Tuğrul KM (July 1, 2026) INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES. International Journal of Agriculture Forestry and Life Sciences 10 2 76–87.
IEEE
[1]O. Önal, İ. Kutlu, and K. M. Tuğrul, “INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES”, Int J Agric For Life Sci, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 76–87, July 2026, doi: 10.66598/ijafls.1964815.
ISNAD
Önal, Oğuzhan - Kutlu, İmren - Tuğrul, Koç Mehmet. “INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES”. International Journal of Agriculture Forestry and Life Sciences 10/2 (July 1, 2026): 76-87. https://doi.org/10.66598/ijafls.1964815.
JAMA
1.Önal O, Kutlu İ, Tuğrul KM. INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES. Int J Agric For Life Sci. 2026;10:76–87.
MLA
Önal, Oğuzhan, et al. “INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES”. International Journal of Agriculture Forestry and Life Sciences, vol. 10, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 76-87, doi:10.66598/ijafls.1964815.
Vancouver
1.Oğuzhan Önal, İmren Kutlu, Koç Mehmet Tuğrul. INTEGRATING UAV-BASED THERMAL IMAGING, DREB EXPRESSION, AND AGRONOMIC INDICES TO EVALUATE DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN DIVERSE TRITICUM SPECIES. Int J Agric For Life Sci. 2026 Jul. 1;10(2):76-87. doi:10.66598/ijafls.1964815

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