Method for Using Images from a Color Digital Camera to Estimate Flower Number

Crop ScienceVolume 40, Issue 3 p. 704-709 Crop Ecology, Management & Quality Method for Using Images from a Color Digital Camera to Estimate Flower Number F.J. Adamsen, Corresponding Author F.J. Adamsen [email protected] U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Corresponding author ([email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorT.A. Coffelt, T.A. Coffelt U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Search for more papers by this authorJohn M. Nelson, John M. Nelson University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center, Maricopa, AZSearch for more papers by this authorEdward M. Barnes, Edward M. Barnes U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Search for more papers by this authorRobert C. Rice, Robert C. Rice U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Search for more papers by this author F.J. Adamsen, Corresponding Author F.J. Adamsen [email protected] U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Corresponding author ([email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorT.A. Coffelt, T.A. Coffelt U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Search for more papers by this authorJohn M. Nelson, John M. Nelson University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center, Maricopa, AZSearch for more papers by this authorEdward M. Barnes, Edward M. Barnes U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Search for more papers by this authorRobert C. Rice, Robert C. Rice U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 4331 E. Broadway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85040Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 May 2000 https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2000.403704xCitations: 54Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract In many plants, flowering is conspicuous in the field, but enumerating flowers is labor intensive, especially when flowers need to be counted on a daily basis. Frequent trips into plot areas and the physical contact with the plants can result in mechanical damage to plants, which can affect results. The objectives of this work were to develop methods using color digital images to estimate the numbers of flowers present in a scene captured in a digital image and to do all of the processing in a fully automated mode that would allow the counting of flowers in large numbers of images. Images of lesquerella [Lesquerella fendleri (Gray) Wats.] flowers were made using a color digital camera of field plots during the 1996 to 1997 growing season. An automated system to identify all of the pixels in an image that were flowers and to count the number of flower spots in an image was developed. Processing time for individual images was 3.5 min compared with a minimum of 45 min for manual counts. The automated methods produced results that were highly correlated with the number of flowers in an image as counted by hand. Results of the automated methods accurately tracked the temporal changes in flower number. Multiple counts of the same plants were made by the automated methods without damage to either plants that were counted or the plot. This method has the potential to be used to predict harvest dates from peak flowering, to track the response of flowering to environmental conditions, and to evaluate the effects of cultural practices on flowering. References 1AdamsenF.J., PinterP.J.Jr, BarnesE.M., LaMorteR.L., WallG.W., LeavittS.W. and KimballB.A. Measuring wheat senescence with a digital camera. Crop Sci.1999 39 719724http://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1999.0011183X003900030019x 2Biarnès-DumoulinV., DenisJ.-B., Lejeune-HénautI. and EtévéG. Interpreting yield instability in pea using genotypic and environmental covariates. Crop Sci.1996 36 115120http://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1996.0011183X003600010021x 3ClarkeT.R. An empirical approach for detecting crop water stress using multispectral airborne sensors. (1)HortTech1997 7 916 4CoffeltT.A., SeatonM.L. and VanScoyocS.W. Reproductive efficiency of 14 virginia-type peanut cultivars. Crop Sci.1989 29 12171220http://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1989.0011183X002900050026x 5DuthionC., NeyB. and Munier-JolainN.M. Development and growth of white lupin: implications for crop management. Agron. J.1994 86 10391045http://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1994.00021962008600060020x 6DymondJ.R. and TrotterC.M. Directional reflectance of vegetation measured by a calibrated digital camera. Appl. Optics1997 36 43144319http://doi.org/10.1364/AO.36.004314 7KawashimaS. and NakataniM. An algorithm for estimating chlorophyll content in leaves using a video camera. Ann. Bot. (London)1998 81 4954http://doi.org/10.1006/anbo.1997.0544 8NelsonJ.M., DierigD.A. and NakayamaF.S. Planting date and nitrogen fertilization effects on lesquerella production. Ind. Crops Products1996 5 217222http://doi.org/10.1016/0926-6690(96)89452-0 9NorbergO.S., SeddighM., JolliffG.D. and FeizT.E. Flower production and honey bee density effects on meadowfoam. Crop Sci.1993 33 108112http://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1993.0011183X003300010020x 10OlivaR.N., SteinerJ.J. and YoungW.C.I. White clover seed production: II. Soil and plant water status on yield and yield components. Crop Sci.1994 34 768774http://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1994.0011183X003400030030x 11SeddighM. and JolliffG.D. Light intensity effects on meadowfoam growth and flowering. Crop Sci.1994 34 497503http://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1994.0011183X003400020035x 12SharmaK.P., DybingC.D. and LayC. Soybean flower abortion: Genetics and impact of selection on seed yield. Crop Sci.1990 30 10171022http://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1990.0011183X003000050013x 13SwiaderJ.M., SippS.K. and BrownR.E. Pumpkin growth, flowering, and fruit response to nitrogen and potassium sprinkler fertigation in sandy soil. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.1994 119 414419 14ThompsonC.M., ShureL. Image processing toolbox for use with MatLab. The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, MA.1993 15TommeyA.M. and EvansE.J. The influence of pre-floral growth and development on the pathway of floral development, dry matter distribution and seed yield in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Ann Appl. Biol.1992 121 687696http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1992.tb03477.x 16TurnerL.B. The effect of water stress on floral characters, pollination and seed set in white clover (Trifolium repens L.). J. Exp. Bot.1993 44 11551160http://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/44.7.1155 17WilliamsI.H., MartinA.P. and WhiteR.P. The pollination requirements of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.). J. Agric. Sci. (Cambridge)1986 106 2730http://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859600061670 Citing Literature Volume40, Issue3May–June 2000Pages 704-709 ReferencesRelatedInformation