Digital diagnosis of vineyard symptoms

A computer-based module known as Disease Diagnosis, has been prepared for grapegrowers to quickly and accurately diagnose symptoms of diseases, pests or disorders showing in the vineyard. Major features include: 1). more than 300 colour images, as presented in The Australian and New Zealand Field Guide to the Diseases, Pests and Disorders of Grapes (Magarey et al, 1999); 2). a Look Here First facility to help the user swiftly diagnose the broad nature of the symptoms in hand; 3). a Looks Like facility that leads the user through the array of images of similar symptoms; and 4) a series of text descriptions that give details of the symptoms, of the conditions under which they might develop and of how to monitor for the symptoms in the vineyard.

Disease Diagnosis has been designed for ease of use by the grower not used to computers or to accessing web-sites. Developed in the hope of encouraging grapegrowers become more familiar with the huge potential offered by the web as a source of electronically delivered technology (e-tech), Disease Diagnosis is a module ready for application in a comprehensive web-site for Australian growers. It is located within a web-site for grapegrowers at http://www.cropwatchonline.com.