Abstract

This study developed and validated a standard area diagram set (SADs) to aid in the estimation of bacterial spot (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passiflorae) severity in entire-margined leaves of sour passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims). The SADs consisted of eight severity levels (3; 6; 12; 25; 50; 77, and 88%). For its validation, 20 raters, who initially estimated the disease severity without the aid of the SADs, were divided into groups (G1 and G3, inexperienced; G2 and G4, experienced). Subsequently, G1 and G2 performed the second evaluation without the SADs, and G3 and G4 completed the second evaluation using the proposed SADs. The accuracy and precision of the assessments were determined by simple linear regression and by the Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient. The increase in accuracy was confirmed by the 80% constant error-free estimates (G3 and G4) and 100% (G3) and 80% (G4) systematic error-free estimates when the SADs was used. Precision increased with the increase in the coefficient of determination, the reduction in absolute errors, and the increase in the reproducibility of the estimates between pairs of raters. Inexperienced raters benefited the most from the use of the SADs. The increase in the accuracy and precision in the non-aided groups, when present, was less pronounced than those increments observed in the SADs-aided groups. The Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient confirmed the increased accuracy and precision detected by the linear regression analysis and indicated increased agreement between the estimated and actual values of disease severity in the SADs-aided groups.

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