CVRP: A rice image dataset with high-quality annotations for image segmentation and plant phenomics research

Machine learning models for crop image analysis and phenomics are highly important for precision agriculture and breeding and have been the subject of intensive research. However, the lack of publicly available high-quality image datasets with detailed annotations has severely hindered the development of these models. In this work, we present a comprehensive multicultivar and multiview rice plant image dataset (CVRP) created from 231 landraces and 50 modern cultivars grown under dense planting in paddy fields. The dataset includes images capturing rice plants in their natural environment, as well as indoor images focusing specifically on panicles, allowing for a detailed investigation of cultivar-specific differences. A semiautomatic annotation process using deep learning models was designed for annotations, followed by rigorous manual curation. We demonstrated the utility of the CVRP by evaluating the performance of four state-of-the-art (SOTA) semantic segmentation models. We also conducted 3D plant reconstruction with organ segmentation via images and annotations. The database not only facilitates general-purpose image-based panicle identification and segmentation but also provides valuable resources for challenging tasks such as automatic rice cultivar identification, panicle and grain counting, and 3D plant reconstruction. The database and the model for image annotation are available at https://bic.njau.edu.cn/ CVRP.html.