Apple Scab Detection in the Early Stage of Disease Using a Convolutional Neural Network

Modern reviews of challenges related to deep learning application in agriculture mention restricted access to open datasets with high-resolution natural images taken in field conditions. Therefore, artificial intelligence solutions trained on these datasets containing low-resolution images and disease symptoms in the advanced stage are not suitable for early detection of plant diseases. The study aims to train a convolutional neural network for apple scab detection in an early stage of disease development. In this study a dataset was collected and used to develop a convolutional neural network based on the sliding-window method. The convolutional neural network was trained using the transfer-learning approach and MobileNetV2 architecture tuned on for embedded devices. The quality analysis in laboratory conditions showed the following accuracy results: F₁ score 0.96 and Cohen’s kappa 0.94; and the occlusion maps — correct classification features.