Image analysis in chrysanthemum DUS testing.

Abstract This paper describes work being carried out at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany to develop a machine vision system that assesses the shape of chrysanthemum leaves as part of the testing procedure applied to new chrysanthemum varieties before they are granted protection under the UK’s Plant Breeder’s Rights Scheme. After outlining the testing procedure and the characters used to describe the leaf shape, this paper illustrates the methods used to classify shape and concludes with a comparison of the results obtained by the machine with more conventional assessments.