resulting from the nutrient omission series greenhouse experiment. The diagnostic programs were written in C++ and operate under MS-DOS or Windows.
DEVELOPING COMPUTER-BASED EXPERT DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS FOR DISEASES, DISORDERS AND PEST DAMAGE OF CITRUS AND TROPICAL FRUIT CROPS
By MICHAEL BRADLEY THOMAS
A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 1995
Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
DEVELOPING COMPUTER-BASED EXPERT DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS FOR DISEASES, DISORDERS AND PEST DAMAGE OF CITRUS AND TROPICAL FRUIT CROPS
By Michael Bradley Thomas December 1995
Chair: Dr. Jonathan H. Crane Co-chair: Dr. Howard W. Beck Major Department: Horticultural Sciences Two computer-based diagnostic programs that can quickly assist commercial producers, extension agents and homeowners in the diagnosis of disease, disorders and pest damage for citrus (Citrus spp.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.), lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.) and 'Tahiti' lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) were developed. Consultations with two research and extension specialists with expertise in the area of diagnosing disease, disorders and pest damage of citrus and tropical fruits were used to acquire expert knowledge and to develop the systems methodology which mimics the diagnostic reasoning process of these experts. A review of both extension literature and 35 mm slide images was completed in order to obtain representative information and slide images illustrative of disease, disorders and pest damage specific to Florida. In order to include additional information which was not well documented in the available slide collections, a greenhouse nutrient omission experiment for N, K, Mg, Mn, Zn and Fe was conducted with 'Arkin' carambola, 'Brewster' and 'Mauritius' lychee and 'Cariflora' papaya. Data from nutrient leaf sampling was analyzed to confirm the existence of induced nutrient deficiencies. Photographs were taken to document the nutrient deficiency symptoms resulting from the nutrient omission series greenhouse experiment. The diagnostic programs were written in C++ and operate under MS-DOS or Windows. Full screen color images link symptoms to 91 diseases, disorders or pests of citrus and 180 diseases, disorders or pests of the six selected tropical fruit crops, representing most of the diseases, disorders and pest in Florida. Users can also refer to summary documents, graphic displays, pop-up menus, dialogue boxes and retrieve management information from the University of Florida IFAS extension publications through hypertext links. The programs are available separately on CD-ROM and each contains over 200 digital color images symptoms.
