An Effective Approach for Potato Leaf Disease Classification Using Deep Learning
Abstract
This study comparatively investigates the performance of deep learning and hybrid approaches for the detection and classification of potato leaf diseases (early blight, late blight, and healthy). In the first stage, direct image classification was performed using pre-trained deep learning models DenseNet201, ResNet50V2, VGG16, and Xception. Of these models, the VGG16 model achieved the highest accuracy. In the second stage, the same deep learning models were used as feature extractors, and the resulting features were classified using traditional machine learning algorithms, SVM, KNN, RF, and XGB. These hybrid approaches provided a significant increase in classification performance. The findings revealed that DenseNet201's combination of SVM and XGB exhibited superior performance with an overall accuracy rate of 99.31%. These results demonstrate that the powerful feature extraction capabilities of deep learning architectures, combined with the effective classification power of traditional machine learning algorithms, provide higher accuracy and reliability compared to the direct deep learning approach. The study highlights the potential of hybrid approaches, particularly for applications such as agricultural image processing and plant disease detection.
Keywords
References
- [1] A. Dogra, S. Kadry, B. Goyal, and S. Agrawal, “An efficient image integration algorithm for night mode vision applications,” Multimedia Tools and Applications, vol. 79, no. 15–16, pp. 10995–11012, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11042-018-6631-Z/TABLES/3
- [2] J. Tian, J. Chen, X. Ye, and S. Chen, “Health benefits of the potato affected by domestic cooking: A review,” Food Chemistry, vol. 202, pp. 165–175, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOODCHEM.2016.01.120
- [3] C.M. Andre, S. Legay, C. Iammarino, et al., “The Potato in the Human Diet: a Complex Matrix with Potential Health Benefits,” Potato Research, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 201–214, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-015-9287-3
- [4] A. Singh and H. Kaur, “Potato Plant Leaves Disease Detection and Classification using Machine Learning Methodologies,” IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 1022, no. 1, p. 012121, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1022/1/012121
- [5] E. Aksoy, U. Demirel, A. Bakhsh, et al., “Recent Advances in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Breeding,” Advances in Plant Breeding Strategies: Vegetable Crops: Volume 8: Bulbs, Roots and Tubers, pp. 409–487, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66965-2_10
- [6] H.N. Fones, D.P. Bebber, T.M. Chaloner, W.T. Kay, G. Steinberg, and S.J. Gurr, “Threats to global food security from emerging fungal and oomycete crop pathogens,” Nature Food, vol. 1, no. 6, pp. 332–342, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/S43016-020-0075-0
- [7] V. Lehsten, L. Wiik, A. Hannukkala, et al., “Earlier occurrence and increased explanatory power of climate for the first incidence of potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans in Fennoscandia,” PLOS ONE, vol. 12, no. 5, p. e0177580, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0177580
- [8] S.S. Ray, N. Jain, R.K. Arora, S. Chavan, and S. Panigrahy, “Utility of Hyperspectral Data for Potato Late Blight Disease Detection,” Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 161–169, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12524-011-0094-2/TABLES/6
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Computer Software
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Şükrü Aykat
*
0000-0003-1738-3696
Türkiye
Publication Date
December 31, 2025
Submission Date
September 2, 2025
Acceptance Date
October 21, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 13 Number: 4
