[EN] Leaf temperature is a physiological trait that can be used for monitoring plant water status. Nowadays,
by means of thermography, canopy temperature can be remotely determined. In this sense, it is crucial
to automatically process the images. In the present work, a methodology for the automatic analysis
of frontal images taken on individual trees was developed. The procedure can be used when cameras
take at the same time thermal and visible scenes, so it is not necessary to reference the images. In this
way, during the processing in batch, no operator participated. The procedure was developed by means
of a non supervised classification of the visible image from which the presence of sky and soil could
be detected. In case of existence, a mask was performed for the extraction of intermediate pixels to
calculate canopy temperature by means of the thermal image. At the same time, sunlit and shady leaves
could be detected and isolated. Thus, the procedure allowed to separately determine canopy temperature
either of the more exposed part of the canopy or of the shaded portion. The methodology developed
was validated using images taken in several regulated deficit irrigation trials in Persimmon and two
citrus cultivars (Clementina de Nules and Navel Lane-Late). Overall, results indicated that similar canopy
temperatures were calculated either by means of the automatic process or the manual procedure. The
procedure developed allows to drastically reduce the time needed for image analysis also considering
that no operator participation was required. This tool will facilitate further investigations in course for
assessing the feasibility of thermography for detecting plant water status in woody perennial crops with
discontinuous canopies. Preliminary results reported indicate that the type of crop evaluated has an
important influence in the results obtained from thermographic imagery. Thus, in Persimmon trees there
were good correlations between canopy temperature and plant water status while, in Clementina de
Nules and Navel Lane-Late citrus cultivars canopy temperature differences among trees could not be
related with tree-to-tree variations in plant water status.This research was supported by funds from the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias and the "Denominacion de origen Caqui Ribera del Xuquer" via "Proyecto Integral Caqui". from projects Rideco-Consolider CSD2006-0067 and Interreg IV Sudoe Telerieg. Thanks are also due to J. Castel, E. Badal, I. Buesa and D. Guerra for assistance with field work and to the Servicio de Tecnologia del Riego for providing the meteorological data.Jiménez Bello, MÁ.; Ballester, C.; Castel Sanchez, R.; Intrigliolo Molina, DS. (2011). Development and validation of an automatic thermal imaging process forassessing plant water status. Agricultural Water Management. (98):1497-1504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2011.05.002S149715049