Optimized encoder-decoder cascaded deep convolutional network for leaf disease image segmentation

Nowadays, Deep Learning (DL) techniques are being used to automate the identification and diagnosis of plant diseases, thereby enhancing global food security and enabling non-experts to detect these diseases. Among many DL techniques, a Deep Encoder-Decoder Cascaded Network (DEDCNet) model can precisely segment diseased areas from the leaf images to differentiate and classify multiple diseases. On the other hand, the model training depends on the appropriate selection of hyperparameters. Also, this network structure has weak robustness with different parameters. Hence, in this manuscript, an Optimized DEDCNet (ODEDCNet) model is proposed for improved leaf disease image segmentation. To choose the best DEDCNet hyperparameters, a brand-new Dingo Optimization Algorithm (DOA) is included in this model. The DOA depends on the foraging nature of dingoes, which comprises exploration and exploitation phases. In exploration, it attains many predictable decisions in the search area, whereas exploitation enables exploring the best decisions in a provided area. The segmentation accuracy is used as the fitness value of each dingo for hyperparameter selection. By configuring the chosen hyperparameters, the DEDCNet is trained to segment the leaf disease regions. The segmented images are further given to the pre-trained Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) followed by the Support Vector Machine (SVM) for classifying leaf diseases. ODEDCNet performs exceptionally well on the PlantVillage and Betel Leaf Image datasets, attaining an astounding 97.33% accuracy on the former and 97.42% accuracy on the latter. Both datasets achieve noteworthy recall, F-score, Dice coefficient, and precision values: the Betel Leaf Image dataset shows values of 97.4%, 97.29%, 97.35%, and 0.9897; the PlantVillage dataset shows values of 97.5%, 97.42%, 97.46%, and 0.9901, all completed in remarkably short processing times of 0.07 and 0.06 seconds, respectively. The achieved outcomes are evaluated with the contemporary optimization algorithms using the considered datasets to comprehend the efficiency of DOA.