Multimodal phenotyping reveals structural–physiological coordination mechanisms underlying light-use efficiency in lettuce

Abstract

Improving light-use efficiency (LUE) is essential for boosting crop productivity, particularly in controlled-environment agriculture. Despite recent advances, most studies still rely on destructive measurements or one-dimensional data, which limits insight into the structural–physiological coordination underlying LUE. We established a multimodal phenotyping platform to dissect the phenotypic regulatory network of LUE in lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.). Integrating hyperspectral imaging with multiview three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, we developed a noninvasive, high-throughput system that simultaneously estimates 3D plant architecture, photosynthetic physiology—net photosynthetic rate (A) and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD)—and aboveground biomass (AGB) across 35 cultivars. A modeling pipeline combining StandardScaler (SS) normalization, genetic algorithm (GA) feature selection, and artificial neural networks (ANN) achieved robust prediction of A (R²=0.72), SPAD (R²=0.87), and AGB (R²=0.85). Spectral contribution analysis revealed distinct sensitivities: SPAD across 400–700 nm, A near 430 and 680 nm, and AGB across 500–580 nm. The 426–430 nm blue band emerged as a key region: high-efficiency cultivars showed distinctive reflectance (42.93–59.03 %), consistent with superior photosynthetic performance. Structurally, high-efficiency types exhibited “large-and-loose” canopies, with greater plant height (+64.37 %), projected area (+59.42 %), and convex-hull volume (+166.3 %), alongside reduced compactness (−23.48 %). Network analysis indicated progressively tighter coupling between spectral and structural traits from low- to high-efficiency groups, consistent with adaptive coordination for light capture and use. These results identify actionable phenotypic markers for selecting high-LUE cultivars and provide a transferable platform for phenomics-driven breeding and management in controlled-environment crops. • A multimodal framework enables non-destructive, high-throughput phenotyping in lettuce. • 66 key spectral and structural features linked to light-use efficiency were identified. • A photosynthetic trait network reveals coordination of pigments and canopy architecture. • Breeding targets for blue-light response and canopy structure optimization are proposed.

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