AppliColor Awarded Patent
Launches POMA Sales to Growers.
Not Just Another App
Immediate detection of potato-plant diseases
Recent discoveries about the optical properties of leaves have led to a patented breakthrough in disease detection using images taken by ordinary cameras and a Microsoft Surface 8. POMA enables your computer's camera to provide instant plant-health assessments, like a real-time Star Trek Tricorder.
POMA is software that can be used on a Microsoft Surface 8. Take a picture of a plant, get an answer immediately. No shipping to a lab, no delays waiting for a result, and no additional per/test costs.
AppliColor Inc. has focused first on potato plant diseases to prove the technology
With the assistance of Willem Schrage, retired ND State Seed Department, Director of Potato Programs; Chris Miles, Ph.D., author of the POMA application; and Alan Shulman, Ed.D., CEO of AppliColor Inc. the POMA software application was developed. It can be applied to most crops with green leaves.
POMA displays unique reflections caused by diseases that disrupt the uniformity of chlorophyll layers. POMA presents images that provide actionable intelligence that can optimize mitigation decisions.
POMA results are immediate, so plants can be efficiently removed
Note that the healthy plant on top does not brightly light up in the POMA scan on the right.
The infected leaves are displayed brighter white.
In many cases, POMA can determine if a plant has been inoculated by current season insect infestations or from seeds infected with PVY. Note the white patterns in the POMA scan indicating the PVY traveling up the central stems to the leaves from a seed potato.
POMA: 97.4% accuracy
Alan Shulman presented the results of a small trial by the Washington State Potato Commission at the February Washington Oregon Potato Exhibition held in Kennewick. Out of 39 samples, POMA agreed with all inspector findings of 19 negative plants and 19 positive plants, a 97.4% accuracy compared to expert inspector results.
A camera sees more color ranges than human eyes, POMA is more sensitive and may capture early immune response cellular changes before they can be seen.
Alan Shulman, Ed.D. states, “As investor funds become available, POMA will be applied to additional crops. AppliColor believes that with the universal accessibility to mobile phones, POMA will make a significant contribution to reducing crop diseases. POMA is the first of several technical advances we have developed. We are seeking funds and growers to assist with implementing new technologies that promise to make major harvest yield impacts on worldwide food supplies.”