What lies beneath: underlying assumptions in bioimage analysis.
The need for plant image analysis tools is established and has led to a steadily expanding literature and set of software tools. This is encouraging, but raises a question: how does a plant scientist with no detailed knowledge or experience of image analysis methods choose the right tool(s) for the task at hand, or satisfy themselves that a suggested approach is appropriate? We believe that too great an emphasis is currently being placed on low-level mechanisms and software environments. In this opinion article we propose that a renewed focus on the core theories and algorithms used, and in particular the assumptions upon which they rely, will better equip plant scientists to evaluate the available resources.
Centre for Plant Integrative Biology, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK. tony.pridmore@nottingham.ac.uk
Tony P
TP
Pridmore
Andrew P
AP
French
Michael P
MP
Pound
D000465:Algorithms; D003657:Decision Making; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D010944:Plants / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012984:Software