Application of a hyperspectral imaging system to quantify leaf-scale chlorophyll, nitrogen and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in grapevine

Rapidly and accurately monitoring the physiological and biochemical parameters of grape leaves is the key to controlling the quality of wine grapes. In this study, a Pika L hyperspectral imaging system (400–1000 nm) was used to acquire hyperspectral image information from grape leaves. New vegetation indices were developed on the basis of the screened sensitive wavebands to quantitatively predict changes in these parameters (the leaf chlorophyll level (SPAD), leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (ChlF parameters)). The results showed that SPAD reached its maximum at the grape turning stage and declined thereafter. The vegetation index (D735−D573)/(D735+D573) was able to predict SPAD fairly well (validation dataset R2 = 0.50). LNC reached its maximum at the grape maturity stage. D682/R525 was highly correlated with LNC. Except for NPQ, all ChlF parameters showed a decreasing trend from the fruiting to harvesting stages. Among the dark-adapted ChlF parameters, FV/Fm had the strongest correlation to the new vegetation index (D735−D544)/(D735+D544) (modelling dataset R2 = 0.68), and Fo had the weakest correlation. Among the light-adapted ChlF parameters, Y(II) had the strongest correlation to the new vegetation index D676/R571 (validation dataset R2 = 0.63); this index also had good predictive power for Fm' (validation dataset R2 = 0.52) but low predictive power for Fo'. All the calculated vegetation indices had weak relationships with NPQ. In addition, this study also verified the predictive abilities of vegetation indices developed in previous studies. This study can provide a technical basis for the nondestructive monitoring of the physiological and biochemical parameters of grape leaves with hyperspectral imaging systems. •Changes in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of grape leaves are more sensitive to changes in leaf nitrogen content than SPAD.•New vegetation indices are good predictors of dark-adapted chlorophyll fluorescence parameters.•The difference in photosynthetic activity within the same leaf becomes greater as leaf senescence increases.