Imagistic technique and fractal analysis-investigations mechanisms of the morphological and temporal variability of the wheat cultures

Abstract

The dynamic analysis of the vegetal carpet and of the vegetal cultures, presenting high interest for the management of natural balances and of agricultural systems efficiency. The fractal analysis has been used for the assessment of the morphological and temporal variability within the Triticum aestivum L. ssp. Vulgare species, in four cultivars of non-awned wheat (Avenue, Pitbull, GK Koros and Illico) and 6 awned cultivars (GK Rozi, PG 101, GK Bekes, GK 102, Antonius și Stefanus). The study has been performed in three different vegetation stages: Growth stage 3-Stem elongation, code 33 BBCH; Growth stage 6-Flowering, anthesis, code 69 BBCH,and Growth stage 9-Senescence, code 99 BBCH. The fractal dimensions have been between 1.879 ± 0.067 and 1.963 ± 0.046. From the perspective of the variability induced by cultivars, two distinct clusters have resulted, GNA cluster including the non-awned cultivars (C1-C4) and a second cluster, GA including the awned cultivars (C5-C10) and subclusters depending on the similarity of cultivars. From the point of view of the temporal variability the obvious difference of Growth stage 9 (99 BBCH code), with the variation coefficient within the fractal dimenssion CV9 = 1.448 ± 0.005 (p < 0.01). The fractal dimension obtained using the digital images can be useful for the dissociation of awned / non-awneed cultivars, but only the higher stages of wheat development. It is also useful for the delimitation of wheat development stages.