A deep learning model for rapid classification of tea coal disease

BACKGROUND: The common tea tree disease known as “tea coal disease” (Neocapnodium theae Hara) can have a negative impact on tea yield and quality. The majority of conventional approaches for identifying tea coal disease rely on observation with the human naked eye, which is labor- and time-intensive and frequently influenced by subjective factors. The present study developed a deep learning model based on RGB and hyperspectral images for tea coal disease rapid classification. RESULTS: Both RGB and hyperspectral could be used for classifying tea coal disease. The accuracy of the classification models established by RGB imaging using ResNet18, VGG16, AlexNet, WT-ResNet18, WT-VGG16, and WT-AlexNet was 60%, 58%, 52%, 70%, 64%, and 57%, respectively, and the optimal classification model for RGB was the WT-ResNet18. The accuracy of the classification models established by hyperspectral imaging using UVE-LSTM, CARS-LSTM, NONE-LSTM, UVE-SVM, CARS-SVM, and NONE-SVM was 80%, 95%, 90%, 61%, 77%, and 65%, respectively, and the optimal classification model for hyperspectral was the CARS-LSTM, which was superior to the model based on RGB imaging. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the classification potential of tea coal disease based on RGB and hyperspectral imaging, which can provide an accurate, non-destructive, and efficient classification method for monitoring tea coal disease.