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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #271412
Title: Detection and measurement of plant disease symptoms using visible-wavelength photography and image analysis

Author
item Bock, Clive
item NUTTER, FORREST - University Of Iowa

Submitted to: CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/2011
Publication Date: 1/11/2011
Citation: Bock, C.H. and Nutter, F.W. Detection and measurement of plant disease symptoms using visible-wavelength photography and image analysis. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 6: 1-15. doi: 10.1079/ PAVSNNR20116027. Available: http://www.cabi.org/cabreviews/. 2011. (Review).

Interpretive Summary: Assessment of disease severity is required for many purposes including predicting yield loss, monitoring and forecasting epidemics, judging host resistance, and for studying fundamental biological host-pathogen processes. If assessments of disease severity are inaccurate and/or imprecise, incorrect conclusions might be drawn and incorrect actions taken. Image analysis based on digital images made using visible-wavelengths is one of several methods used to quantify disease; it offers advantages compared to visual assessment or other methods used to detect and quantitate disease intensity. Over the last thirty years, major advances have been made to improve reliability, precision and accuracy of image analysis for detecting and measuring plant disease. Although the equipment and software continues to become more sophisticated, these technologies are also becoming easier to use. The adoption of image analysis methods is expanding exponentially, and is often applied in the study of numerous host plant-disease systems. This review describes the history, technology, and application of visible-wavelength photography and image analysis, and progress towards realizing the full potential of these systems in plant disease assessment.

Technical Abstract: Disease assessment is required for many purposes including predicting yield loss, monitoring and forecasting epidemics, judging host resistance, and for studying fundamental biological host-pathogen processes. Inaccurate and/or imprecise assessments can result in incorrect conclusions or actions. Image analysis based on visible-wavelengths is one of several methods used to quantify disease; it offers advantages compared to visual assessment or other methods used to detect and quantitate disease intensity. Over the last thirty years, major advances have been made to improve reliability, precision and accuracy of image analysis for detecting and measuring plant disease. Although the equipment and software continues to become more sophisticated, these technologies are also becoming easier to use. The adoption of image analysis methods is expanding exponentially, and is often applied in the study of numerous host plant-disease systems. This review describes the history, technology, and application of visible-wavelength photography and image analysis, and progress towards realizing the full potential of these systems in plant disease assessment.