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Flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida L.) are drought-sensitive ornamental trees. Two trials (in 2021 and 2022) were conducted to evaluate the physiological changes induced as a result of drought conditions. In an outdoor setting, trees were organized in a randomized complete block design. Three different irrigation treatments were applied at 125%, 25%, and 10% (control, moderate, and severe drought, respectively) of their daily water usage (evapotranspiration). The two physiological parameters normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and leaf moisture potential were collected every week for 1 month. Plant growth data (height and width) were collected at the beginning and the end of the study. Normalized difference vegetation index data collected with a handheld NDVI meter and a Sentera NDVI sensor mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were correlated for ground truthing. In 2021, control plants had a greater plant width increase and shoot biomass, whereas no significant differences in growth were observed among the treatments in 2022. In both trials, the NDVI was the greatest for control plants compared with the other treatments on days 7, 14, 21, and 27. In both studies, no differences were observed for leaf moisture potential on day 7, but was greatest for controls on days 14, 21, and 27. The correlation between the handheld NDVI and the UAV NDVI was found to be strong and positive, ranging from 0.84 to 0.93 (trial 1: P ≤ 0.0001, P ≤ 0.0001, P = 0.0002, and P ≤ 0.0001; trial 2: P = 0.0002, P ≤ 0.0001, P ≤ 0.0001, and P ≤ 0.0001 for weeks 1–4, respectively). This information will be applicable to understanding the physiology of the crop and the inclusion of emerging technology in crop production and monitoring.

Magnolias (Magnolia sp.) are economically important woody ornamental plants; however, plant damage associated with frost and powdery mildew (Microsphaera alni and Phyllactinia corylea) disease is a major production challenge. To understand the tree architecture and powdery mildew resistance, 26 yellow-flowering magnolias (Magnolia sp.) were evaluated in McMinnville, TN, USA (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b). One-year-old containerized trees were planted in a field plot during Mar 2006, with 4.6-m plant-to-plant and 3.7-m row-to-row spacing. The experiment was a completely randomized block design with three single-plant replications. Plant height and canopy diameter were measured on Dec 2016 and Feb 2018, and the apical dominance ratio (i.e., indicating tree architecture) was calculated by dividing the height by the canopy diameter. Plants were evaluated for powdery mildew severity and defoliation using a scale of 0% to 100% of the total plant canopy affected or defoliated, respectively, from Aug to Oct of 2016 and 2017. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated for the evaluation period of each year. The plant apical dominance ratio ranged from 1 to 3, with ‘Gold Cup’ and ‘Sun Spire’ having the highest value, and ‘Lois’, ‘Gold Star’, ‘Golden Gala’, ‘Solar Flair’, ‘Stellar Acclaim’, ‘Sun Ray’, ‘Sunburst’, and ‘Sundance’ having the lowest value (i.e., relatively round shape). Of the 26 cultivars, Sundance, Sun Spire, Sun Ray, and Gold Cup had the lowest powdery mildew severity (10% to 33% in 2016 and 40% to 60% in 2017), AUDPC, and defoliation. Cultivars Anilou, Gold Star, Golden Pond, Golden Rain, Golden Sun, Green Bee, Honey Liz, Judy Zuk, Koban Dori, Lois, Solar Flair, Stellar Acclaim, and Yellow Bird were highly susceptible to powdery mildew (>80% disease severity) and had the highest AUDPC values. Results of this research may aid breeders, nursery producers, and landscapers when selecting yellow-flowering magnolia cultivars with desirable tree architecture and resistance to powdery mildew.