Measurement of Leaf Tip Angle by Using Image Analysis and 3-D Digitizer

In this study, leaf tip (declination) angles were measured by image processing method and by using a 3-D digitizer. The 3-D digitizer senses magnetic wave from the source and determines the 3-D location of the sensor. While the 3-D digitizer measures the precise position of the leaf, it is time comsuming, especially if there are many leaves. For this reason, we also tested a method to determine general information on leaf tip angles by image processing, we call this the “texture analysis method”. In this procedure, only photos were necessary for the calculation of general characteristics of leaf tip angles.The 3-D digitizer (Isotrak, POLHEMUS Inc.) was used for the measurement of leaf position of F. benjamiana L. a plant that has about 300 leaves. Within about 60cm from the source, the digitizer showed good precision.The results of the texture analysis method were compared with measurements of the 3-D digitizer. Generally they showed good agreement and indicated that the texture analysis method was effective for the estimation of leaf tip angles.