Morphometric characterization of floral structures Tagetes erecta L. and Tagetes patula L. (Asteraceae) using digital image analysis and fractal dimension

Abstract

Tagetes erecta L. and Tagetes patula L. flowers have ornamental uses in Mexico, but also some industries used in the coloring
of meat. The genus Tagetes presents species and varieties with different colors and shades in their flowers. Therefore a rapid and
objective form of distinction of these varieties would be useful for the industry. In this research was developed a method to distinguish
and characterize the diversity in two varieties of the T. erecta and T. patula through the characterization of the floral structures,
using techniques of digital image analysis and fractal analysis. Images of ligules and flower heads were captured and binarized
to produce images of separate objects (ligules and flower heads). The analysis of these images was performed by determining
different morphometric parameters such as perimeter, projected area, maximum length, shape factor and compactness. Additionally,
the boundary fractal dimension, perimeter fractal dimension and area fractal dimension were determined. The results showed that the
fractal dimension and form factor were the parameters in petals and flower head with higher sensitivity to detect differences between
and among varieties and so are proposed as suitable parameter to characterize floral structures.