Leveraging UAV spectral and thermal traits for the genetic improvement of resistance to Dothistroma needle blight in Pinus radiata D.Don

Phenotyping is critical in tree breeding, but traditional methods are often labour-intensive and not easily scalable. Resistance to biotic and abiotic stress is a key focus in tree breeding programmes. While heritable traits derived from spectral remote sensing have been identified in trees, their application to tree phenotyping remains unexplored. This study investigates in situ high-throughput hyperspectral and thermal imaging for assessing Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) resistance in Pinus radiata D.Don.
Using UAV-based hyperspectral and thermal imaging during a severe DNB outbreak in a clonal trial in New Zealand, we computed narrow-band hyperspectral indices (NBHIs), canopy temperature indices, radiative transfer inverted plant traits, and solar-induced fluorescence. Visual severity scores and remote sensing indices were modelled using spatially explicit mixed-effect linear models integrating pedigree and genomic data in a single-step genomic evaluation. Multi-trait models an..., , # Leveraging UAV spectral and thermal traits for the genetic improvement of resistance to Dothistroma needle blight in Pinus radiata D.Don

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.5hqbzkhhk](10.5061/dryad.5hqbzkhhk)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

#### File: data_confidentialised.zip

**Description:** 

**pedigree.csv:** 

Pedigree of all clones used in the study and their ancestors. This is used to create the A matrix (pedigree-based relationship matrix).

* Tree: genotype index. All trees used in the published research article have an entry in this column.

- Mom: index of the seed parent of the corresponding Tree

* Dad: index of the pollen parent of the corresponding Tree.

The table is sorted so that the row giving the pedigree of an individual appears before any row where that individual appears as a parent. It uses identity 0 or NA for unknown parents.

**phenotypes.csv:**

This file contains phenotypes and trial design information for all trees inc...,