The term phenotyping refers to the assessment of plant appearance and characteristics related to plant function and performance. The environment where these evaluations are conducted may condition the interpretation of the observed plant responses. For example, the control of the intensity, uniformity, and repeatability of factors affecting plant growth and development and/or experimental treatments is maximal in growth chambers and laboratory experiments, intermediate in glasshouses, and more limited in field experiments. In addition, controlled environments offer multiple possibilities for automatic and non-destructive evaluation of physiological traits. However, and despite the practical advantages of controlled environments, several limiting factors have been identified, including soil temperatures, rates of soil drying, uniformity of moisture in pots, volume and depth for root growth, and availability of nutrients. These -artifacts- compromise extrapolation of results from controlled environments to field situations. Advantages and disadvantages of controlled environments versus field environments in relation to some physiological traits are also described in this chapter.

Global Wheat Program

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INT2731

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection