Detection of cucurbit powdery mildew, sphaerotheca fuliginea (schlech.) thermal imaging in field conditions

Abstract

Plant diseases are one of the leading causes of yield losses in agricultural areas. In the fight against these diseases, chemical control methods are frequently used. However, this method of combat usually begins after the disease has spread throughout the entire field. The most essential thing here is to control the disease before it spreads throughout the entire country. Thermal imaging methods can now be used to accomplish this. Plant diseases stress the plant as a result of infection. The plant's stress causes activities that cause a temperature increase or reduction in the area where the infection has occurred or has begun. Thermal imaging technologies can be used to identify this condition. This work focuses on the potential early detection of Cucurbit powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea (Schlech.) Polacci), which causes considerable yield loss in Cucurbitaceae, utilizing thermal imaging technologies. According to the findings, the lowest temperature in infected leaf tissues was 8.2 degrees C, whereas the maximum temperature in plant tissues without infection was 10.2 degrees C. The findings suggest that thermal imaging technology could be used to identify powdery mildew in cucurbits. In this case, early detection will potentially enable the detection of the disease that has started to spread in a certain region and will allow the disease to be potentially controlled with less labor and chemical use.