David D. Baltensperger

Advances in automation, imaging, and artificial intelligence have enabled large‐scale plant phenotyping, but image analysis remains a critical bottleneck for crop improvement and biological discovery. We developed an integrated multispectral phenotyping framework using imagery from the Texas A&M AgriLife Automated Precision Phenotyping Greenhouse and expanded plant growth and phenotyping (PGP v2) data across maize ( Zea mays L.), cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ), rice ( Oryza sativa ), and sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.). The pipeline integrates pseudo‐red‐green‐blue composite image generation, plant detection and segmentation, image stitching, vegetation‐index analysis, texture analysis, morphological trait extraction, and temporal comparison of image‐derived features to quantify changes in plant structure, spectral reflectance, and texture over time. Among the evaluated segmentation approaches, segment anything model (SAM) v3 provided the highest and most consistent accuracy across diverse crop structures, although it required greater computational time than classical methods. Segment anything model for long sequences (SAM2Long)maintained plant‐instance associations across vertically stacked frames, while scale‐invariant feature transform–based stitching reconstructed plant mosaics when individual plants extended beyond a single field of view. For each plant and imaging date, the pipeline generated an 863‐dimensional feature vector spanning vegetation indices, spectral statistics, texture descriptors, and morphological traits. The framework was evaluated through two case studies: treatment‐level temporal analysis of mutagenized sorghum lines and cold‐stress phenotyping of maize using a separate imaging system. In both studies, the extracted features supported statistical and multivariate analyses of phenotypic variation and enabled separation of plants based on treatment‐ or stress‐related responses. The combined dataset and workflow provide structured, automated, and well‐documented phenotypic analysis across multiple crops, experimental settings, and imaging systems for controlled‐environment plant science and crop improvement.

An emerging paradigm in public health focuses on enhancing nutrition in existing food staples to reduce chronic disease at the population scale, rather than relying on individuals to change their behavior. This paradigm leverages plant and animal breeding, production practices, and processing to enhance nutrition, whereby foods consumed by millions can be improved at low incremental cost. This article supports and operationalizes this paradigm, illustrating the potential to improve diets through a case study that increases the arabinoxylan fiber content of commodity wheat through classical plant breeding (a non-GMO technology). The approach described in this article proposes to link agricultural and food science with health system implementation to deliver equitable access, improved healthcare outcomes and cost savings, and improved community health. Based on published dose–response relationships, comparative risk modeling indicates that modest fiber increases achieved by the commodity wheat breeding led to reduced population-level risks of 1–3% for cardiovascular disease, 3–4.5% for type 2 diabetes, and 1–3.5% for colorectal cancer, translating into substantial healthcare cost savings when implemented at a national scale. This article outlines possible low-risk pathways for implementing these nutrition increases at the population scale through commodity supply chains and community-level nutrition improvement efforts and evaluates the ranges of potential population-level impacts.

In the United States, a high level (≥0.3%) of the intoxicating Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) threatens farm‐scale production of hemp (Cannabis sativa L. ssp. sativa), but the linkage between THC and major physio‐morphological traits of hemp is not well known. This study aims to characterize the variations in physiological and/or morphological parameters and cannabinoid contents of three hemp varieties, that is, Berry Blossom, Painted Lady, and Skipper. Diurnal foliar gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, water potential, and canopy temperature were measured on five clear days in the 2022 growing season, and cannabinoids were measured at peak flowering using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Allometric equations were developed to use easily measured biomass or morphological variables to predict variables that are more difficult to measure. The diurnal foliar gas exchange of the three hemp varieties was largely unaffected by the high temperatures of southwest Texas, with Berry Blossom and Skipper showing the highest and lowest photosynthesis, respectively, and Painted Lady having the most efficient stomatal control of gas exchange. Although the rooting depth of Berry Blossom was shallower than that of the two other varieties, there was no evidence showing the effect of rooting habit on the physiology of the studied hemp varieties, which was presumably due to the lack of water stress in our experiment. Nor were there significant differences in the cannabinoid contents in relation to environmental and varietal responses, as the measured THC contents of all three varieties were under 0.3%. Overall, the three hemp varieties showed different behavior strategies in southwest Texas.

Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) has many potential uses, including in textiles, construction, human food, animal feed, health, and personal care applications, and was once widely grown in the United States. Despite the tremendous initial excitement in hemp production and expansion of hemp acreage following its legalization in 2018, there remains uncertainty and risk surrounding the crop; major gaps in production and processing knowledge and supply and distribution chains exist because of previous legal barriers. In 2023, a national survey of current and prospective organic hemp growers ( n = 140) was conducted to identify major challenges associated with organic hemp production and determine what resources and information are needed to support growth and resilience within the industry. A series of focus groups were also conducted with organic hemp growers, hemp educators, and industry stakeholders, including researchers and extensionists, current and prospective hemp business owners, hemp advocates and organizations, and hemp consultants ( n = 39). Survey respondents and focus group participants included farmers across a wide range of farm types and sizes, geographic areas, production practices, and end‐use products. Most current hemp producers surveyed are growing hemp for cannabinoid products. Across the survey and focus groups, and regardless of farm type or end‐use product, the most significant challenges of organic hemp production are related to marketing, sales, and regulations. Despite these barriers, most survey respondents are interested in growing hemp in the future; this includes expanded interest in non‐cannabinoid end‐use products such as fiber, grain, seed, or transplants.

Plants, and the biological systems around them, are key to the future health of the planet and its inhabitants. The Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030 frames our ability to perform vital and far‐reaching research in plant systems sciences, essential to how we value participants and apply emerging technologies. We outline a comprehensive vision for addressing some of our most pressing global problems through discovery, practical applications, and education. The Decadal Vision was developed by the participants at the Plant Summit 2019, a community event organized by the Plant Science Research Network. The Decadal Vision describes a holistic vision for the next decade of plant science that blends recommendations for research, people, and technology. Going beyond discoveries and applications, we, the plant science community, must implement bold, innovative changes to research cultures and training paradigms in this era of automation, virtualization, and the looming shadow of climate change. Our vision and hopes for the next decade are encapsulated in the phrase reimagining the potential of plants for a healthy and sustainable future. The Decadal Vision recognizes the vital intersection of human and scientific elements and demands an integrated implementation of strategies for research (Goals 1–4), people (Goals 5 and 6), and technology (Goals 7 and 8). This report is intended to help inspire and guide the research community, scientific societies, federal funding agencies, private philanthropies, corporations, educators, entrepreneurs, and early career researchers over the next 10 years. The research encompass experimental and computational approaches to understanding and predicting ecosystem behavior; novel production systems for food, feed, and fiber with greater crop diversity, efficiency, productivity, and resilience that improve ecosystem health; approaches to realize the potential for advances in nutrition, discovery and engineering of plant‐based medicines, and "green infrastructure." Launching the Transparent Plant will use experimental and computational approaches to break down the phytobiome into a "parts store" that supports tinkering and supports query, prediction, and rapid‐response problem solving. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are indispensable cornerstones of realizing our vision. We make recommendations around funding and systems that support customized professional development. Plant systems are frequently taken for granted therefore we make recommendations to improve plant awareness and community science programs to increase understanding of scientific research. We prioritize emerging technologies, focusing on non‐invasive imaging, sensors, and plug‐and‐play portable lab technologies, coupled with enabling computational advances. Plant systems science will benefit from data management and future advances in automation, machine learning, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence‐assisted data integration, pattern identification, and decision making. Implementation of this vision will transform plant systems science and ripple outwards through society and across the globe. Beyond deepening our biological understanding, we envision entirely new applications. We further anticipate a wave of diversification of plant systems practitioners while stimulating community engagement, underpinning increasing entrepreneurship. This surge of engagement and knowledge will help satisfy and stoke people's natural curiosity about the future, and their desire to prepare for it, as they seek fuller information about food, health, climate and ecological systems.