Canopy foliar traits serve as crucial indicators of plant health and productivity, forming a vital link between plant conditions and ecosystem dynamics. In this study, the use of hyperspectral data and foliar traits for white pine needle damage (WPND) detection was investigated for the first time. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus L., EWP), a species of ecological and economic significance in the Northeastern USA, faces a growing threat from WPND. We used field-measured leaf traits and hyperspectral remote sensing data using parametric and non-parametric methods for WPND detection in the green stage. Results indicated that the random forest (RF) model based solely on remotely sensed spectral vegetation indices (SVIs) demonstrated the highest accuracy of nearly 87% and Kappa coefficient (K) of 0.68 for disease classification into asymptomatic and symptomatic classes. The combination of field-measured traits and remote sensing data indicated an overall accuracy of 77% with a Kappa coefficient (K) of 0.46. These findings contribute valuable insights and highlight the potential of both field-derived foliar and remote sensing data for WPND detection in EWP. With an exponential rise in forest pests and pathogens in recent years, remote sensing techniques can prove beneficial for the timely and accurate detection of disease and improved forest management practices.
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