Abstract The characterization of tree canopy traits represents a key step to identify potential cultivars adaptable to a specific growing system. Developing methodologies to rapidly evaluate canopy traits allows to classify cultivars in germplasm banks and facilitates selections in breeding programs. In the present work, the ability of low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was compared with on-ground traditional methodology for measuring canopy traits (namely crown diameters, tree height and crown volume) in trees of the Worldwide Olive Germplasm Bank of Cordoba. The evaluated trees belonged to a wide range of cultivars and were planted in three different dates. A wide variability was found for the four parameters measured with both on ground and UAV methodologies. Besides, a significant linear correlation was observed at tree and cultivar level, with relative errors that ranged from 4.44 to 13.9 % for axial parameters or from 17.0–29.0% for volume, depending on the planting date considered. ANOVA and Tukey’s results showed a high agreement between both methodologies in identifying cultivars with similar vigour values. When comparing means over time, the UAV-based data allowed a slightly better detection of significant differences than on-ground data. The results provided by the present research indicated that the use of UAV is a reliable methodology to study tree canopy traits in olive germplasm banks, supporting breeders to the identification and definition of the genetics behind crop variability. The evaluation here performed indicates that there is a wide variability on canopy traits on the cultivated olive germplasm that could be exploited to select potential cultivars for different growing systems.

中文翻译：

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使用从无人机 (UAV) 获取的高分辨率图像对科尔多瓦全球橄榄种质库中的冠层特征进行高通量分析

摘要 树冠特征的表征是识别适合特定生长系统的潜在栽培品种的关键步骤。开发快速评估冠层性状的方法可以对种质库中的品种进行分类，并促进育种计划中的选择。在目前的工作中，将低成本无人机 (UAV) 的能力与测量科尔多瓦全球橄榄种质库树木冠层特征（即树冠直径、树高和树冠体积）的地面传统方法的能力进行了比较. 评估的树木属于广泛的品种，并在三个不同的日期种植。发现使用地面和无人机方法测量的四个参数存在很大差异。此外，在树和品种水平上观察到显着的线性相关性，轴向参数的相对误差范围为 4.44 至 13.9%，体积的相对误差为 17.0-29.0%，具体取决于所考虑的种植日期。方差分析和 Tukey 的结果表明，两种方法在鉴定具有相似活力值的品种方面高度一致。在比较一段时间内的平均值时，基于无人机的数据比地面数据可以更好地检测到显着差异。本研究提供的结果表明，使用无人机是研究橄榄种质库中树冠特征的可靠方法，支持育种者识别和定义作物变异背后的遗传学。