An enhanced lightweight T-Net architecture based on convolutional neural network (CNN) for tomato plant leaf disease classification.

Abstract

Tomatoes are a widely cultivated crop globally, and according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics, tomatoes are the third after potatoes and sweet potatoes. Tomatoes are commonly used in kitchens worldwide. Despite their popularity, tomato crops face challenges from several diseases, which reduce their quality and quantity. Therefore, there is a significant problem with global agricultural productivity due to the development of diseases related to tomatoes. Fusarium wilt and bacterial blight are substantial challenges for tomato farming, affecting global economies and food security. Technological breakthroughs are necessary because existing disease detection methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive. We have proposed the T-Net model to find a rapid, accurate approach to tackle the challenge of automated detection of tomato disease. This novel deep learning model utilizes a unique combination of the layered architecture of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and a transfer learning model based on VGG-16, Inception V3, and AlexNet to classify tomato leaf disease. Our suggested T-Net model outperforms earlier methods with an astounding 98.97% accuracy rate. We prove the effectiveness of our technique by extensive experimentation and comparison with current approaches. This study offers a dependable and understandable method for diagnosing tomato illnesses, marking a substantial development in agricultural technology. The proposed T-Net-based framework helps protect crops by providing farmers with practical knowledge for managing disease. The source code can be accessed from the given link.