Identifying agronomic traits correlated to grain yield can be very useful for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] breeding, especially if these traits can be measured through unmanned aerial vehicle high-throughput phenotyping rather than through manual measurements. The objective of the present study was to assess the association between canopy coverage and soybean grain yield through different statistical methodologies. A panel with 97 soybean genotypes was evaluated in two field experiments conducted in Paraná State, Brazil. Canopy coverage was determined by using an RGB camera coupled to a drone. Images taken during flights at phenological stages V3-V4, V5-V6, V7-V8, and V9-R1 were used to calculate canopy coverage based on the green pixel ratio in each experimental unit. There were significant genotype × environment interactions in all evaluated traits. Selective accuracy values (0.73–0.96) revealed indirect yield selection efficiency based on canopy coverage. High genetic correlation estimates (0.76) were observed between grain yield and canopy coverage at flowering in one of the assessed environments. These results were confirmed through genetic correlation coefficient decomposition in direct and indirect effects and of gain estimates presenting indirect selection. Thus, canopy coverage data remotely collected using drones to soybean indirect selection for grain yield can be a promising strategy to accelerate genetic gains in soybean breeding programs.

中文翻译：

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无人机高通量冠层表型与大豆产量的关联

识别与谷物产量相关的农艺性状对大豆非常有用 [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] 育种，特别是如果这些性状可以通过无人机高通量表型而不是通过手动测量来测量。本研究的目的是通过不同的统计方法评估冠层覆盖率与大豆籽粒产量之间的关联。在巴西巴拉那州进行的两个田间试验中，对一个具有 97 种大豆基因型的小组进行了评估。通过使用与无人机耦合的 RGB 相机确定树冠覆盖率。飞行期间在物候阶段 V3-V4、V5-V6、V7-V8 和 V9-R1 拍摄的图像用于根据每个实验单元中的绿色像素比计算冠层覆盖率。在所有评估的性状中存在显着的基因型×环境相互作用。选择性准确度值 (0.73–0. 96）揭示了基于冠层覆盖的间接产量选择效率。在一种评估的环境中，在开花时的谷物产量和冠层覆盖率之间观察到高遗传相关性估计值 (0.76)。这些结果通过直接和间接影响中的遗传相关系数分解以及呈现间接选择的增益估计得到证实。因此，使用无人机远程收集的冠层覆盖数据对大豆的粮食产量进行间接选择可能是加速大豆育种计划中遗传收益的有前景的策略。这些结果通过直接和间接影响中的遗传相关系数分解以及呈现间接选择的增益估计得到证实。因此，使用无人机远程收集的冠层覆盖数据对大豆的粮食产量进行间接选择可能是加速大豆育种计划中遗传收益的有前景的策略。这些结果通过直接和间接影响中的遗传相关系数分解以及呈现间接选择的增益估计得到证实。因此，使用无人机远程收集的冠层覆盖数据对大豆的粮食产量进行间接选择可能是加速大豆育种计划中遗传收益的有前景的策略。