Image-based phenotyping of faba bean genetic resources for water deficit responses under controlled conditions

Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) has great potential to contribute to sustainable agriculture and protein security globally but is known to be very sensitive to drought stress. Uncovering drought-adapted germplasm is critical for developing resilient cultivars and advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying stress adaptation. However, high-throughput plant phenotyping under stress conditions remain a major bottleneck in crop genetics and breeding programs. In this study, a multi-sensor indoor phenotyping platform was used to assess 44 faba bean genotypes under water deficit conditions. Standardized, monitored stress conditions were achieved by watering-by-weighing for drought onset, duration, and intensities allowing genotype-level comparisons. The genotypes showed a range of stress responses in growth and physiology, including traits such as plant height, biomass, water use efficiency (WUE), and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Digital biomass, derived from combined top- and side-view plant imaging, was strongly correlated with biological biomass at the experimental endpoint, validating its use as a non-destructive proxy for growth assessment in faba bean. Time-resolved generalized additive modelling further revealed genotype-specific differences in the timing and magnitude of water deficit response. Genotypes that maintained growth and WUE under water deficit conditions may serve as valuable pre-breeding materials for development of drought-adapted faba bean.