The invention provides methods for characterizing metabolic profiles, phenotypic profiles and trait profiles in plants or groups of plants. Additionally, methods for establishing an unbiased model between a phenotypic profile and a metabolic profile, or between a trait profile and metabolic profile, are also provided by the invention. Further, methods for using such unbiased models to accurately predict the development of a phenotype of interest or a trait of interest in an independent, immature plant are also provided. In one embodiment, immature plants are selected for use based on their predicted development of a phenotype or trait of interest.
