Human vs. Machine, the Eyes Have It. Assessment of Stemphylium Leaf Blight on Onion Using Aerial Photographs from an NIR Camera

Aerial surveillance could be a useful tool for early detection and quantification of plant diseases, however, there are often confounding effects of other types of plant stress. Stemphylium leaf blight (SLB), caused by the fungus Stemphylium vesicarium, is a damaging foliar disease of onion. Studies were conducted to determine if near-infrared photographic images could be used to accurately assess SLB severity in onion research trials in the Holland Marsh in Ontario, Canada. The site was selected for its uniform soil and level topography. Aerial photographs were taken in 2015 and 2016 using an Xnite-Canon SX230NDVI with a near-infrared filter, mounted on a modified Cine Star—8 MK Heavy Lift RTF octocopter UAV. Images were taken at 15–20 m above the ground, providing an average of 0.5 cm/pixel and a field of view of 15 × 20 m. Photography and ground assessments of disease were carried out on the same day. NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), green NDVI, chlorophyll index and plant senescence reflective index (PSRI) were calculated from the images. There were differences in SLB incidence and severity in the field plots and differences in the vegetative indices among the treatments, but there were no correlations between disease assessments and any of the indices.

Spectral radiance characteristics and vegetative indices of crops -A ground based remote sensing technique

The spectral radiance characteristics and vegetation indices like simple difference, ratio vegetation, normalised vegetation perpendicular vegetation transformed vegetation and tasseled cap transformation of mung been sunflower and groundnut crops at different growth stages have been studied. The experiment was conducted in post rainy season during 1990-91 in the farm of Agricultural College. Pune using hand held multi-spectral radiometer. The significance of spectral variation of radiance and vegetative indices with respect to the phenological stages are discussed.

Assessment of Ultraviolet Impact on Main Pigment Content in Purple Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) by the Spectrometric Method and Hyperspectral Images Analysis

This research is aimed at the assessing the impact of the ultraviolet radiation in the A, B, and C ranges (as additives to the main light) on general plan condition, the stress experienced by them, the pigment concentration in the leaves and leaf reflective characteristics. Under studying, there were the photo-protective reactions of the purple variety basil plants. The plants were grown in plastic pots in a phyto-chamber equipped with an automatic microclimate system. The phyto-chamber was divided into four compartments where, in addition to the main lighting, there were installed the additional LEDs emitting their radiation in the ranges UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. Plant reactions were evaluated by the contents of the main pigments as detected by the spectrometric method. Then correlations were revealed between those values and the vegetative indices obtained based on the hyperspectral images. A strong correlation (R2 ˃ 0.83) was observed between the values of the vegetative indices ARI and mARI and the anthocyanins concentration in basil leaves. A weak correlation (R2 = 0.0479) was found between the ARI and mARI values and the carotenoids index CRI700, which is attributed to the shielding effect of the anthocyanins. Deviations in the results are influenced by leaf surface unevenness, its thickness and density. Additional research is needed including developing reflection indices taking into account the shielding effect of the purple pigments.

Evaluating the Spectral Response and Yield of Soybean Following Exposure to Sublethal Rates of 2,4-D and Dicamba at Vegetative and Reproductive Growth Stages

The commercialization of synthetic auxin-resistant crops and the commensurate increase in post-emergent auxin-mimic herbicide applications has resulted in millions of hectares of injury to sensitive soybeans in the United States since 2016. Visual yield loss estimations following auxin injury can be difficult. The goal of this research was to determine if spectral variations following auxin injury to soybean allow for more precise yield loss estimations. Identical field experiments were performed in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in Columbia, Missouri to compare the ability of established vegetative indices to differentiate between exposure levels of 2,4-D and dicamba in soybean and predict yield loss. Soybeans were planted at three timings for growth stage separation and were exposed to sublethal rates of 2,4-D and dicamba at the R2, R1, and V3 growth stages. A UAV-mounted multispectral sensor was flown over the trial 14 days after the herbicide treatments. The results of this research found that vegetative indices incorporating the red-edge wavelength were more consistent in estimating yield loss than indices comprised of only visible or NIR wavelengths. Yield loss estimations became difficult when soybean injury occurred during later reproductive stages when soybean biomass was increased. This research also determined that when injury occurs to soybean in vegetative growth stages late in the growing season there is a greater likelihood for yield loss to occur due to decreased time for recovery. The results of this research could provide direction for more objective and accurate evaluations of yield loss following synthetic auxin injury than what is currently available.

Vegetative Indices in Assessing Effectiveness of the Photobioacoustic Complex in Children with the Vegetative Nervous System Somatoform Dysfunction, often Suffering from Acute Recurrent Infections

Photobioacoustic methods of complex exposure allow correcting vegetative, vascular-cardiac disorders in children with autonomicnervous system somatoform dysfunction syndrome (ANSSDS) without pharmacological load. Aim. To optimize the treatment of children with somatoform vegetative dysfunction (ANSSDS), often suffering from recurrent infections,using physiotherapy methods.The aim of the study was to optimize the treatment of children with somatoform vegetativedysfunction, often suffering from recurrentinfections, using physiotherapy methods. Material and methods. The study included 140 children with autonomic nervous system somatoform dysfunction syndrome (ANSSDS),often suffering from recurrent infection. For the first time, clinical complaints, functional (ECG and cardiointerval recording KIR)and vegetative indicators (Kerdo, Hildebrandt index, Biend, Baoev-Parin) before/after application of the innovative photobioacousticcomplex, including: BАС-BFB-bioacoustic effects on the head and LLLR on the projection of the cubital region and thymus were analyzed.The duration of the procedure was 30 minutes and the course of treatment was 10 procedures. Before and after the procedures,vegetative indices and indicators of myocardial bioelectrogenesis were examined, comparing them with the norm in healthy children. Results. 35% of children were diagnosed with parasympathicotonia (sympathetic imbalance -SI); 54.1% – sympathetic (SA) and10.9% – mixed (etonia – E) type of vegetative dystonia. There were reveled gender-age differences in subjective complaints of childrenwith ANSSDS, whose index vegetative indicators were correlated with the type of vegetative support. Children with SA were 2.5 timesmore likely to be diagnosed with cardiac syndrome and elevated blood pressure; in children with SI – 3.5 times more often detected:gastric, astheenoeurotic syndrome and allergic diseases; in children with E: asthenonevrotic, neurosis-like disorders and sleep disturbancesthat were differentiated after the use of photobioacoustic complex. Complaints and vegetative indices in children with SI andE were corrected more significantly than in SA. Conclusion. Evaluation of vegetative indicators in children 7-12 years with ANSSDS, often suffering from recurrent infection, allows topersonify treatment programs and reduce the level of acute recurrent morbidity by 2.5 times.

The effectiveness of the photobioacoustic complex in children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent acute recurrent infections

Purpose: To optimize the treatment of children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent acute recurrent infections with the use of physiotherapy methods. Research methods: The study of 140 children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent recurrent infections included the analysis of the data on developmental histories (form № 026/in «Children’s Medical Card for School» and form 112/ «History of Child Development»), clinical complaints, functional (ECG and cardiointerval recording) and vegetative indicators (Kerdo, Hildebrandt, Baevsky-Parin indices) before and after the use of the photobioacoustic complex, which includes: biofeedback bioacoustic impact on the head area and LLLR on the projection of the cubital area and thymus. The ECG was performed on the device of the «Shiller» company (Switzerland) with a computer console for cardiointerval recording. The vegetative indices were studied on the «Poly-Spectr» device of Neurosoft (Russia). LLLR was performed on the «Milta» (l=0,89 mcm) on the overhead projection area at a frequency of 80Hz for 5 minutes and on the projection zone of the thymus at a frequency of 1500 Hz for 3minutes, as responsible for immune support. The total duration is 8–9 minutes (children of 7–8 years — 5–8 minutes; children of 9–12 years — 8–9 minutes). Bioacoustic effects on the head area were performed on the hardware-computer complex of acoustic correction (biofeedback bioacoustic correction) «SINKHRO-S» (Russia). Results: Parasympathicotonia (VI) was identified in 35% (18,5% of boys, 16,4% of girls); sympathicotonia (SA) — in 54,1% (28,5% of boys, 25,7% of girls); a mixed type of vegetative dystonia — in 10,9% (4,4% of boys, 6,5% of girls). Subjective complaints of children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction suffering from frequent recurrent infections had a brighter picture than those of children without an infectious factor. Gender-age differences in subjective complaints of children with somatoform autonomic dysfunction, which correlated with vegetative types: sympathoadrenal (SA), parasympathetic or vagoinsular (VI) and mixed (eutonia, C), have been identified. Conclusion: The developed photobioacoustic complex provides a high correction of index indicators of vegetative tension and vegetative reactivity in children with elevated Kerdo and Baevsky-Parin indices. After the reduction of these indicators, the elimination of correlations between them was noted, which positively affected the vegetative reactivity and parameters of myocardial bioelectrogenesis.

Vegetation cover analysis of the mountainous part of north-eastern Siberia by means of geoinformation modelling and machine learning (basic principles, approaches, technology and relation to geosystem science)

For the first time, the geoinformation modelling and machine learning approaches have been used to study the vegetation cover of the mountainous part of North-Eastern Siberia – the Orulgan medium-altitude mountain landscape province. These technologies allowed us to distinguish a number of mapping units that were used for creation and analysis of 1:100 000 scale vegetation map of the interpreted key area. Based on the studies, we decided upon the basic principles, approaches and technologies that would serve as a methodology basis for the further studies of vegetation cover of the large region. Relief, slope aspect, genetic types of sediments, and moisture conditions were selected as supplementary factors to the vegetative indices for differentiation of both plant communities and vegetation map units.