A Model of Plant Identification System Using GLCM, Lacunarity And Shen Features

Recently, many approaches have been introduced by several researchers to identify plants. Now, applications of texture, shape, color and vein features are common practices. However, there are many possibilities of methods can be developed to improve the performance of such identification systems. Therefore, several experiments had been conducted in this research. As a result, a new novel approach by using combination of Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix, lacunarity and Shen features and a Bayesian classifier gives a better result compared to other plant identification systems. For comparison, this research used two kinds of several datasets that were usually used for testing the performance of each plant identification system. The results show that the system gives an accuracy rate of 97.19% when using the Flavia dataset and 95.00% when using the Foliage dataset and outperforms other approaches.Comment: 10 page

Petal cell shape and flower-pollinator interaction in Nicotiana

Petal epidermal cell shape has been shown to affect pollination success in flowering plants. Conical epidermal cells may increase grip for insect pollinators and enhance flower colouration compared to non-conical cells. Nicotiana (Solanaceae) presents a diverse range of petal cell shapes. Interestingly, sister species in at least two phylogenetically distinct clades of the genus have contrasting petal epidermal cell shapes (conical vs. non-conical). This project aims to further understand character evolution of petal cell shape in Nicotiana and its implications in pollination systems, combining tools of molecular biology, morphology and pollinator behaviour experiments. First, using a candidate gene approach, I explore in parallel the molecular mechanisms involved in petal cell shape differentiation of sister species with contrasting cell shape N. cordifolia and N. solanifolia (Section Paniculatae) and N. bonariensis and N. forgetiana (Section Alatae). Subgroup 9 R2R3 MYB transcription factors are potentially responsible for the molecular control of petal cell shape. Differential expression of subgroup 9 R2R3 MYBs in petals of the sister species, rather than sequence differences in these genes, might be explaining the contrasting cell morphologies. Next, I develop an Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation protocol for the non-model species N. forgetiana, a methodological advance crucial for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms and functional implications of petal cell shape. Lastly, I explore how petal colour and petal cell shape interact in the perception of flowers by model pollinator Bombus terrestris using biomimetic artificial flowers. Pollinator behaviour experiments indicate that the bumblebees can discriminate flowers with conical from flowers with non-conical surfaces, on a red and on a white background, using visual cues alone as well as tactile cues alone. This investigation improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in petal epidermal cell morphogenesis and of the functional implications of petal cell shape in the interaction flower-pollinator in Nicotiana.Cambridge International Trust and the Newton-Caldas Fund partnership between the British Council (UK) and Colciencias (Colombia

Fractal analysis of leaf-texture properties as a tool for taxonomic and identification purposes: a case study with species from Neotropical Melastomataceae (Miconieae tribe)

Melastomataceae is a common and dominant family in Neotropical vegetation, with high species diversity which leads to a large variation in some morphological structures. Despite this, some species of Melastomataceae are very similar in their external leaf morphology, leading to difficulties in their identification without the presence of reproductive organs. Here we have proposed and tested a computer-aided texture-based approach used to correctly identify and distinguish leaves of some species of Melastomataceae that occur in a region of Neotropical savanna in Southeastern Brazil, also comparing it with other previously proposed approaches. The results demonstrated that our approach may clearly separate the studied species, analyzing the patterns of leaf texture (both adaxial and abaxial surfaces), and achieving better accuracy (100%) than other methods. Our work has suggested that leaf texture properties can be used as a new characteristic for identification, and as an additional source of information in taxonomic and systematic studies. As the method may be supervised by experts, it is also suitable for discrimination of species with high morphological plasticity, improving the automated discrimination task. This approach can be very useful for identification of species in the absence of reproductive material, and is a rapid and powerful tool for plant identification.CNPq (306628/2007-4; 484474/2007-3)FAPESP (08/57313-2

A preliminary leaf epidermal and pollen morphology of some West African species of <i>Desplatsia</i> Bocq

Desplatsia is a genus made up of about four to eight species which are mostly trees native to tropical Africa. The leaf and pollen characters of three West African species of Desplatsia were investigated using light microscopy. The study was aimed at investigating the leaf epidermis and pollen morphology of the species to further enhance the understanding of the taxonomic relationships in the genus. The epidermal cells were isodiametric, polygonal to irregular with straight, curved to wavy anticlinal cell walls. The species were hypostomatic with anisocytic and staurocytic stomata types. The adaxial and abaxial walls of Desplatsia chrysochlamywere characterised by three-celled head multicellular glandular trichomes with highest number of cells and stomata and striated adaxial surface. The four-armed branched and stellate trichomes with the largest stomata size of 19.5 µm × 15.6 µm distinguished D. dewevrei from D. subericarpa in which the largest cells, lowest number of stomata and size were recorded. The pollen grains were medium in size 26.5 µm–47.5 µm, tricolporate with long colpi. However, the subprolate, baculate exine surface, small ora and lumen width separated D. chrysochlamy from D. dewevrei and D. subericarpa in which prolate, perforated exine surface and colpi margo were recorded. A key is provided for the identification of the species. Therefore, the ora size, lumen width, number of epidermal cell and stomata are additional taxonomic characters that can be used for species delimitation in the genus

Pre-Columbian land use and its modern legacy in the Purus-Madeira Interfluve, Central Amazonia

To combat environmental degradation and change, it is imperative that the rainforests are protected and sustainable land use practices are developed in Amazonia. A better understanding of the role of humans in shaping Amazonian environments and the extent to which the forests have been resilient to anthropogenic disturbance is critical to determining the current state of these ecosystems. This research provides the first reconstruction of late pre-Columbian to early post-Columbian land use and its environmental legacy in the Purus-Madeira Interfluve, Central Amazonia. Soil profile samples were collected across a transect approximately 600 km in length between Manaus and Humaitá, covering a large ecological gradient from dense canopy forests to open canopy forests, as well as dry, upland areas (terra firme) and small riverine settings. Archaeobotanical phytolith and terrestrial palaeoecological samples were analysed from four contexts: (i) primary forests; (ii) oligarchic forests dominated by economically useful trees in the terra firme rainforest on natural soils; (iii) an anthropogenic forest with Brazil nut trees on anthropogenic soil; and (iv) a previously undocumented archaeological site next to the Brazil nut stand. The outcome of this study provides evidence that the extent of the preColumbian environmental impact was larger than previously thought, and this shows that humans managed these forests in various ways to varying intensities. The data, therefore, helps to identify the long-term role of human-environment interactions in Central Amazonia and provides valuable information for future environmental and land use regulation policies

Characterization and modelling of structural changes in fruits and vegetable tissue submited to dehydration processes

Tese de doutoramento. Ciências de Engenharia. 2006. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Port

Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of Rhynchoglossum Notonianum (Wall.) B.L. Burtt - An Underutilized Nature's Treasure.

Herbs have formed the basis of sophisticated traditional medicine systems throughout human history. The nature has gifted abundant plant wealth for all living creatures, which possess medicinal virtues. Present trend of wide usage of herbs is not a throwback to the Dark Ages but an indication that herbs are a growing part of modern and high-tech medicine. This dissertation covers pharmacognostical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the underexploited medicinal plant Rhynchoglossum notonianum belonging to the family Gesneriaceae

Transpiration as a Factor in Crop Production

The object of experiments reported in this bulletin has been to determine principles according to which water is used by crops. In many agricultural districts, water is frequently a seriously limiting factor in crop production. It has been thought that some means might be devised through a correct understanding of the principles involved, whereby economy in the use of water in farm practice could be increased. In this effort there are two chief points of attack, namely, (1) adjusting the external factors to the needs of the plant, and (2) selecting plants adapted to the conditions

Cellulose Filaments for Responsive and Functional Materials

Cellulosic filaments, found in plants, are crucial structural elements for their survival and are a great source of inspiration to obtain new functional materials. The work performed out in this thesis aimed for the isolation, physical characterization, study of the morphology and shape, as well as the mechanical behaviour of cellulosic filaments obtained from the leaves of Agapanthus africanus and Ornithogalum thyrsoides and from the filaments that form the ribbons existing on the awns of the Erodium plants. These cellulosic filaments and filament networks were chosen due to the fundamental role that they play in the plant kingdom and their ability to change shape in the presence of an external stimuli. The study of the chosen systems served as an inspiration for the preparation and production of new membranes formed by non-woven networks of micro/nano filaments. A prototype, which allows for the selective removal of oil micro droplets from aqueous emulsions, was developed. This dissertation begins with a general introduction, based on two review papers, which the author of this thesis is the first author, in which the main concepts used in the following chapters are addressed and interconnected. The original part of the work is in chapters II, III and IV. In chapter II, the study of microfilaments from the leaves tracheary of two plants, Agapanthus africanus and Ornithogalum thyrsoides, is made. These microfilaments belong to plants of the same order and have identical shapes (left helices), chemical composition and skeletons, but different mechanical properties. For the first time, micrometric droplets of a nematic liquid crystal were used as sensors to reveal the morphology of the filaments. In order to obtain quantitative characteristics on the surface of the microfilaments, photos of the textures of pierced droplets were obtained by Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM). These textures were compared with simulated optical microphotographs obtained by numerical modelling for the nematic droplets. Homeotropic anchoring at the air, and different anchoring conditions, at the interfaces with the filaments were considered for the nematic structure. This study allowed the establishment of relationships between the physical properties/morphology of the filaments and to determine their interactions with other filaments and with the environment. In chapter III, cellulosic networks existing on dead tissues of the Erodium awns were isolated and characterized. An interesting feature of these cellulosic networks is that they form ribbons that change reversibly the shape in the presence of moisture. When dried these ribbons are right-handed helices, that uncoil remaining taut, in the presence of moisture. The work performed allowed the preparation of helical ribbons that can change the shape from right- to lefthanded helices in the presence of moisture. The behaviour observed was explained using computational simulations, considering filaments that contract and expand asymmetrically. Birefringent transparent ribbons were also isolated. The asymmetric arrangement of cellulosic fibres allows the material to be stimuli-responsive without the use of complicated lithography and intricate deposition techniques, making it suitable for a diverse range of applications, such as the production of intelligent textiles and environmental friendly micro components. In chapter IV, non-woven membranes obtained from cellulosic materials and cellulose nanocrystals were prepared and characterized. Different patterns were designed using the screenprinting technique. The adhesion between the different types of cellulosic fibres was promoted through a heat treatment. The non-woven membranes produced allowed the development of a prototype that selectively removes oil droplets from aqueous emulsions with an efficiency of approximately 80%. Throughout this thesis (chapters II and III), the complexity of the systems increases. The work begins by studying the morphology of a filament and its mechanical behaviour in the presence of other filaments. After a much more complex system, in which anisotropic filament networks, produced by the Erodium plant were addressed. The stimuli-responsive behaviour of these anisotropic networks was investigated after being released by the plant. Based on the understanding of the systems formed by cellulosic filaments, studied in chapters II and III, functional non-woven membranes were produced, printed, and characterized. The non-woven membranes led to the development of a prototype, which allows the selective removal of micro droplets of oil form aqueous emulsions. At the end, a summary of the main scientific results and future work including a technological application, which was developed in the framework of this thesis, are presented.Os filamentos celulósicos, existentes nas plantas, são elementos estruturais cruciais para a sua sobrevivência e fontes de inspiração para a obtenção de novos materiais funcionais. O trabalho realizado nesta tese visou o isolamento, caracterização física, estudo da morfologia e forma, assim como do comportamento mecânico de filamentos celulósicos obtidos a partir das folhas das plantas Agapanthus africanus e Ornithogalum thyrsoides e de filamentos que formam fitas existentes nas hastes da planta Erodium. Estes filamentos e redes de filamentos celulósicos foram escolhidos devido ao papel fundamental que desempenham no reino vegetal e à resposta que podem apresentar na presença de estímulos externos. O estudo dos sistemas escolhidos serviu de inspiração para a preparação e fabrico de novas membranas formadas por redes não tecidas de filamentos micro/nanométricos e o desenvolvimento de um protótipo, que permite a remoção seletiva de microgotas de óleo de emulsões aquosas. Inicia-se com uma introdução de caracter geral, baseada em dois artigos de revisão, dos quais a autora desta tese é primeira autora, na qual se abordam e interligam os conceitos principais, que são utilizados nos capítulos seguintes. A parte original do trabalho reparte-se pelos capítulos II, III e IV. No capítulo II é feito o estudo de microfilamentos existentes nos sistemas vasculares das folhas de duas plantas, Agaphantus africanus e Ornithogalum thyrsoides. Estes microfilamentos pertencem a plantas da mesma ordem e possuem formas (hélices esquerdas), composições químicas e esqueletos idênticos, mas apresentam propriedades mecânicas distintas. Pela primeira vez foram utilizadas gotas micrométricas de um cristal líquido nemático como sensores da morfologia dos filamentos isolados. De modo a obter características quantitativas sobre a superfície dos microfilamentos, fotos de texturas obtidas por microscopia com luz polarizada foram comparadas com microfotografias óticas simuladas a partir de modelação numérica de um meio contínuo das estruturas das gotas nemáticas, com ancoragem homeotrópica na superfície com o ar suspensas nos microfilamentos com diferentes ancoragens. O estudo realizado permitiu estabelecer relações entre as propriedades físicas/morfologia dos filamentos e determinar as suas interações com outros filamentos e com o meio ambiente. No capítulo III foram isoladas e caracterizadas redes celulósicas existentes nas hastes de tecidos mortos da planta Erodium. Uma característica interessante destas redes celulósicas é a de formarem fitas que mudam reversivelmente de conformação na presença de humidade. Quando secas estas fitas são hélices direitas, que na presença de humidade desenrolam para fitas esticadas, sem torção nem flexão. Este trabalho permitiu induzir uma inversão de quiralidade nas fitas que foi explicada pelo uso de simulações computacionais considerando que as fitas contraem e esticam de modo assimétrico. Fitas birrefringentes transparentes também foram isoladas. A disposição assimétrica das fibras celulósicas permite a resposta do material não envolvendo o uso de técnicas complicadas de litografia nem de deposição, podendo ser aplicado, por exemplo, no fabrico de têxteis inteligentes e de microcomponentes amigos do ambiente. No capítulo IV foram preparadas e caracterizadas membranas não tecidas obtidas a partir de soluções de derivados celulósicos e de celulose nano cristalina. Foram desenhadas diferentes geometrias pela utilização da técnica de “screenprinting” e promovida a adesão entre os diferentes tipos de fibras celulósicas através de tratamento térmico. As membranas não tecidas produzidas permitiram o desenvolvimento de um protótipo que remove, de forma seletiva, microgotas de óleo de emulsões aquosas com uma eficiência de cerca de 80%. Ao longo desta tese (capítulo II e III), a complexidade dos sistemas estudados aumenta, isto é, começa-se por estudar a morfologia de um filamento e o seu comportamento mecânico na presença de outros filamentos, para depois se passar para um sistema muito mais complexo em que redes anisotrópicas de filamentos, impressas pela planta Erodium, permitem a resposta a estímulos externos da estrutura formada, mesmo após esta ter abandonado a planta. Tendo por base a compreensão dos sistemas formados por filamentos celulósicos, estudados nos capítulos II e III, foram produzidas, impressas e caracterizadas, no laboratório, membranas funcionais tecidas de filamentos micro/nano celulósicos. As membranas não tecidas originaram o desenvolvimento de um protótipo, que permite a remoção seletiva de micro gotas de óleo existentes em emulsões aquosas. No final é apresentado um sumário dos principais resultados científicos e perspetivas de avanço tecnológico alcançadas por este trabalho