Vegetation indices (VIs) have long been a crucial tool for monitoring plant growth and health, assessing the impact of environmental factors on vegetation, and supporting decision-making processes in agriculture and forestry. Traditionally, these mathematical formulations, leveraging the spectral response of plants to sunlight, have been instrumental in assessing vegetation health. However, emerging research suggests some unconventional applications that extend the scope of VIs. This article surveys the traditional and novel uses of VIs in various fields, including other applications such as climate change studies, disaster management, or microorganism assessment. It underscores the value of VIs, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), or the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), in tracking climate-related shifts, mitigating the impact of disasters, assessing microbial terroir, organic production, and even aiding the wine industry. Nonetheless, despite their promise, the practical application of VIs also presents interpretational and technical challenges that need to be addressed. Hence, while the vast potential of VIs is underscored in this article, it also calls for continued technological advancements and research efforts to fully harness their benefits, ultimately aiding in the sustainable management of our environment. The objective of this review is not only to reflect on the current situation, but also to explore innovative and unconventional applications of vegetation indices. This involves anticipating the potential of this dynamic and rapidly advancing scientific tool, rather than solely following mainstream approaches.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) has earned recognition as a significant crop due to its unique nutrient composition and its adaptability to the growing threat of climate change. Consequently, the utilization of remote sensing techniques for non-invasive pistachio monitoring has become critically important. This research was conducted in two pistachio orchards located in Spain, aiming to assess the effectiveness of vegetation indices (VIs) in estimating nut yield and quality under various irrigation conditions. To this end, high-resolution multispectral and thermal imagery were gathered using a Micasense ALTUM sensor carried by a DJI Inspire 2 drone in order to calculate the NDRE (normalized difference red edge index), GNDVI (green normalized difference vegetation index), NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), and CWSI (crop water stress index). Each orchard underwent two flights at distinct growth stages, totaling four flights. In June, NDRE-carbohydrates (r = 0.78) and CWSI-oleic (r = 0.77) showed the highest correlations, while in September, CWSI-carbohydrates (r = 0.62) and NDVI-iron (r = 0.54) Despite NDVI’s limitations due to saturation effects, all VIs had significant yield and quality correlations, with GNDVI proving most effective in both flights. CWSI correlated considerably on both dates in terms of several quality parameters (carbohydrate percentage, magnesium, iron, and fatty acids, namely palmitoyl, stearic, oleic, and linoleic), surpassing non-thermal indices. Finally, it is important to consider the impact of environmental factors, such as the location of the sun, when interpreting the CWSI, as it modifies the temperature distribution pattern within the canopy. This study supports the viability of remote sensing and vegetation indices as potential tools for enhancing the management of pistachio orchards.

Durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum ssp. durum ) is globally cultivated for pasta, couscous, and bulgur production. With the changing climate and growing world population, the need to significantly increase durum production to meet the anticipated demand is paramount. This review summarizes recent advancements in durum research, encompassing the exploitation of existing and novel genetic diversity, exploration of potential new diversity sources, breeding for climate‐resilient varieties, enhancements in production and management practices, and the utilization of modern technologies in breeding and cultivar development. In comparison to bread wheat ( T. aestivum ), the durum wheat community and production area are considerably smaller, often comprising many small‐family farmers, notably in African and Asian countries. Public breeding programs such as the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) play a pivotal role in providing new and adapted cultivars for these small‐scale growers. We spotlight the contributions of these and others in this review. Additionally, we offer our recommendations on key areas for the durum research community to explore in addressing the challenges posed by climate change while striving to enhance durum production and sustainability. As part of the Wheat Initiative, the Expert Working Group on Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding recognizes the significance of collaborative efforts in advancing toward a shared objective. We hope the insights presented in this review stimulate future research and deliberations on the trajectory for durum wheat genomics and breeding.

Pistachio trees have become a significant global agricultural commodity because their nuts are renowned for their unique flavour and numerous health benefits, contributing to their high demand worldwide. This study explores the application of Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) and Machine Learning (ML) to determine pistachio nuts' geographic origin and irrigation practices, alongside predicting essential commercial quality and yield parameters. The study was conducted in two Spanish orchards and employed HSI technology to capture spectral data. It used ML models like Partial Least Squares (PLS), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) for analysis.

Durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum ssp. durum [Desf.] Husnot) is cultivated globally and used to produce pasta, couscous, bulgur and other semolina products. With the growing world population and increasing food demand, it is pertinent to understand past trends in global food production to shape future endeavours. This review briefly gives an overview of more than a century of durum wheat breeding efforts across the globe, focusing on past genetic gains for not only yield but additional traits, such as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, grain quality, biomass and nutrient uptake. Historical genetic gains have varied across the globe between breeding programmes, with a short history summarised for countries in the Mediterranean Basin, North and South America and Australia and the international programmes led by CIMMYT and ICARDA. As Early Career Researchers of the Expert Working Group on Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding of the Wheat Initiative, we understand the importance of highlighting past progress in durum wheat yield to further increase genetic gains and give insight into future research and breeding needs.