Field-based and close-range multispectral imaging dataset for Huanglongbing (HLB) detection in orange trees: A...

This article presents a multispectral imaging dataset dedicated to training a machine learning algorithm for the in situ detection of Huanglongbing (HLB). HLB, also known as citrus greening disease, is a major pathology caused by the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, particularly in species of the citrus genus. The dataset is constituted of terrestrial images acquired in a commercial sweet orange orchard of the variety Pera Rio (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck). The images describe large portions of canopy, with healthy leaves and sections infected by HLB as well as some confounding factors naturally present in orchards. Multispectral images were acquired with a multi-lens camera within the visible-near-infrared domain, resulting in 14 narrow spectral bands. The image acquisition was conducted during two field campaigns in 2023 and 2024. In total, the dataset contains 2,978 images divided into two classes HLB (1,681) and non-HLB (1,297). Originally, data are stored in TIFF format as 14 monochromatic images, organised by spectra band. Additionally, an HDF5-format version is provided, where images are stored as 3D arrays with spectral bands in ascending order. This format is compatible with various programming languages, enables efficient data handling, and is optimised for machine learning and image processing applications, supporting reproducible and portable analysis. This dataset is a valuable resource for the development and benchmarking of classification models, including deep learning approaches, aimed at the detection of HLB. Phytopathology imaging datasets are scarce yet essential for advancing digital agriculture and the development of robust tools for crop disease detection worldwide.