Automatização de detecção de esporos do fungo Phakopsora Pachyrhizi em lâminas de microscópio

Abstract

This study addresses the threat to soybean culture in Brazil represented by Asian soybean rust, caused by the fungus Phakopsora Pachyrhizi. The pathology is spread through its spore, which is carried by the wind and significantly affects soybean productivity when not adequately controlled. Management measures include the use of resistant cultivars, sanitary voids, and fungicide application, but effective control is challenging. In this context, the study introduced an innovative approach involving spore collectors and automation. Spore collectors, similar to windsocks, were used to monitor the fungus more precisely than visual symptom detection. This resulted in earlier detection and thus allowed for better fungicide utilization. Additionally, the project developed an automation system using a digital microscope and customized software to automatically identify and count spores on collected slides. This significantly reduced the time required for analysis, making it more efficient. The software also offers advanced features such as data organization and even artificial intelligence assistance in accurately marking spores in images.