Color Characteristics of Broccoli and
Cauliflower Leaves Based on the Colorimeter Parameters

doi:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2024-0029

Acta Horticulturae Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (4): 872-882.doi: 10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2024-0029

• Genetic & Breeding · Germplasm Resources · Molecular Biology • Previous Articles Next Articles

Color Characteristics of Broccoli and Cauliflower Leaves Based on the Colorimeter Parameters

ZHANG Yiying^1,2,*，ZHANG Yu^1,2,*，CHU Yunxia^1,2，CHEN Hairong^1,2，DENG Shan^1,2，LI Aiai³，ZHAO Hong^1,2，LIU Kun^1,2，HAN Ruixi^3,**(renliaqx@163.com)，and REN Li^1,2,**(wudifeixue007@163.com)

¹Institute for Agri-Food Standards and Testing Technology，Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences，Shanghai 201403，China ²Shanghai Sub-Center for Plant New Variety Tests，Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs，Shanghai 201415，China ³Development Center of Science and Technology，Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs，Beijing 100176，China

Received:2024-03-22 Revised:2024-12-03 Online:2025-04-25 Published:2025-04-25
Contact: HAN Ruixi，REN Li

Abstract

Abstract: The visual assessment of leaf color by the human eye presents inherent challenges and inaccuracies. To explore the feasibility of quantitative and digital definition of leaf color，this study collected and calculated leaf color parameters（L^*，a^*，b^*，C^*，H^* and E^*）from 56 broccoli（Brassica oleracea var. italica）germplasm resources and 74 cauliflower（Brassica oleracea var. botrytis）germplasm resources by using the colorimeter. These six parameters with leaf color-related traits of broccoli and cauliflower were further investigated. The results showed that the values of the color parameters measured by the colorimeter could effectively reflect the difference between blue-green，green，and gray-green of broccoli leaves and the intensity of cauliflower leaf colors. The values of the color parameters a^* and b^* were essential for identifying broccoli and cauliflower leaf colors. In addition，cuticular waxes on leaf surface also affect the identification of leaf color. The more cuticular waxes resulted in a smaller b^* value，corresponding to the more blue-green leaf color. Moreover，the L^* value could be used to distinguish leaf between broccoli and cauliflower. This study suggests the color parameters measured by the colorimeter can reflect the relevant characteristics of broccoli and cauliflower leaf color，which could avoid the subjectivity and inaccuracy of the color sensory judgment，providing an important reference for the digital description and quantitative analysis of broccoli and cauliflower leaf color and related traits.

Key words: broccoli, cauliflower, leaf color, colorimeter, color parameters

CLC Number:

S 63

ZHANG Yiying, ZHANG Yu, CHU Yunxia, CHEN Hairong, DENG Shan, LI Aiai, ZHAO Hong, LIU Kun, HAN Ruixi, REN Li. Color Characteristics of Broccoli and Cauliflower Leaves Based on the Colorimeter Parameters[J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2025, 52(4): 872-882.

References

[1]	Chen C，Wang L，Liu H，Liu J，Xu W，Huang M，Gou N，Wang C，Bai H，Jia G，Wuyun T. 2023. Construction of apricot variety search engine based on deep learning. Horticultural Plant Journal，10 (2)：387–397.
[2]	Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage. 1978. Recommendations on uniform color spaces：color-difference equations，psychometric color terms. CIE Publ. 15 Suppl. 2. Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage，Paris，France.
[3]	Darrigues A，Hall J，van der Knaap E，Francis D M，Dujmovic N，Gray S. 2008. Tomato analyzer-color test：a new tool for efficient digital phenotyping. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science J，133 (4)：579–586.
[4]	Domínguez E，Heredia-Guerrero J A，Heredia A. 2011. The biophysical design of plant cuticles：an overview. New Phytologist，189 (4)：938–949.
[5]	Gazula A，Kleinhenz M D，Scheerens J C，Ling P P. 2007. Anthocyanin levels in nine lettuce（Lactuca sativa）cultivars：influence of planting date and relations among analytic，instrumented，and visual assessments of color. HortScience HORTS，42 (2)：232–238.
[6]	Goisser S，Wittmann S，Fernandes M，Mempel H，Ulrichs C. 2020. Comparison of colorimeter and different portable food-scanners for non-destructive prediction of lycopene content in tomato fruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology，167：111232.
[7]	Gong Chengsheng，Zhao Shengjie，Lu Xuqiang，He Nan，Zhu Hongju，Dou Junling，Yuan Pingli，Li Bingbing，Liu Wenge. 2019. Chemical compositions and gene mapping of wax powder on watermelon fruit epidermis. Scientia Agricultura Sinica，52 (9)：1587–1600. (in Chinese)
	龚成胜，赵胜杰，路绪强，何楠，朱红菊，豆峻岭，袁平丽，李兵兵，刘文革. 2019. 西瓜果实表皮蜡粉的化学成分与基因定位. 中国农业科学，52 (9)：1587–1600.
[8]	Guo Shoupeng，Huang Changjian，Lu Xupeng，Du Yan，Zhang Wen，Qi Zengmin. 2022. Application of color difference meter in the evaluation of eggplant color. China Fruit & Vegetable，42 (11)：61–65. (in Chinese)
	郭守鹏，黄昌见，卢绪鹏，杜岩，张文，齐增敏. 2022. 色差仪在茄子果色评价中的应用. 中国果菜，42 (11)：61–65.
[9]	Itle R A，Kabelka E A，Olmstead J W. 2022. Heritability estimates of L^a^b^* color space values in winter squash（Cucurbita spp.）. HortScience，57 (2)：202–214.
[10]	Ji J，Fang S，Shi Z，Xia Q，Li Y. 2020. An efficient nonlinear polynomial color characterization method based on interrelations of color spaces. Color Research & Application，45 (6)：1023–1039.
[11]	Liu Y F，Zhang J H，Yang X H，Wang J M，Li Y G，Zhang P，Mao J，Huang Q M，Tang H. 2019. Diversity in flower colorations of Ranunculus asiaticus L. revealed by anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in view of gene composition，gene expression patterns，and color phenotype. Environmental Science and Pollution Research，26：13785–13794.
[12]	Lu Xuqiang，Yuan Ming，He Nan，Zhao Shengjie，Zhu Hongju，Liu Wenge. 2021. Rapid determination of watermelon lycopene content by using chromatic meter. China Cucurbits and Vegetables，34 (4)：41–45. (in Chinese)
	路绪强，袁明，何楠，赵胜杰，朱红菊，刘文革. 2021. 利用色差仪快速检测西瓜番茄红素含量. 中国瓜菜，34 (4)：41–45.
[13]	Osuna-Caballero S，Olivoto T，Jiménez-Vaquero M A，Mempela H，Ulrichs C. 2023. RGB image-based method for phenotyping rust disease progress in pea leaves using R. Plant Methods，19：86.
[14]	Psiroukis V，Espejo-Garcia B，Chitos A，Dedousis A，Karantzalos K，Fountas S. 2022. Assessment of different object detectors for the maturity level classification of broccoli crops using UAV imagery. Remote Sens，14：731.
[15]	Shan Y，Deng C，Hu W，Chen J，Chen X，Zheng S，Qin Q. 2019. First insight into diversity of leaf color of loquat（Eribotrya）and its potential value on taxonomy. Genet Resour Crop Evol，66：143–163.
[16]	Teng Cailing，Wang Chuanyu，Yang Xiaohong，Han Ruixi，Liu Yanfang，Deng Chao. 2023. Color changes of the new and old color chart and their application in the determination of flower color and variety grouping of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Journal of Nanjing Agricultural University，46 (4)：679–687. (in Chinese)
	滕彩玲，王传宇，杨晓洪，韩瑞玺，刘艳芳，邓超. 2023. 新旧比色卡颜色变化及其在长寿花花色测定和品种分组上的应用. 南京农业大学学报，46 (4)：679–687.
[17]	Tu S，Xue Y，Zheng C，Qi Y，Wan H，Mao L. 2018. Detection of passion fruits and maturity classification using Red-Green-Blue Depth images. Biosystems Engineering，175：156–167.
[18]	Wäldchen J，Rzanny M，Seeland M，Mäder P. 2018. Automated plant species identification-trends and future directions. PLoS Computational Biology，14 (4)：e1005993.
[19]	Yang Hongyun，Sun Aizhen，Yang Wenji，He Huojiao. 2018. Method of visual simulation of rice leaf color. Journal of System Simulation，30 (8)：2892–2899. (in Chinese)
	杨红云，孙爱珍，杨文姬，何火娇. 2018. 水稻叶片颜色可视化模拟方法研究. 系统仿真学报，30 (8)：2892–2899.
[20]	Zhang Min，Yuan Hui. 1997. The PauTa criterion and rejecting the abnormal value. Journal of Zhengzhou University of Technology，18 (1)：84–88. (in Chinese)
	张敏，袁辉. 1997. 拉依达（PauTa）准则与异常值剔除. 郑州工业大学学报，18 (1)：84–88.
[21]	Zhang Zhenchao，Tao Meiqi，Pan Yongfei，Dai Zhongliang，Yao Yuemei. 2022. Transcriptome analysis and mining of genes related to wax powder synthesis of broccoli flower buds. Journal of Southern Agriculture，53 (3)：607–617. (in Chinese)
	张振超，陶美奇，潘永飞，戴忠良，姚悦梅. 2022. 青花菜花蕾转录组测序分析及蜡粉合成相关基因挖掘. 南方农业学报，53 (3)：607–617.
[22]	Zhu Meng，Bai Jieyun，Ren Hong’e. 2011. Research on color difference changes gradient of green leaves based on Lab model. Intelligent Computer and Applications，1 (2)：56–57. (in Chinese)
	朱朦，白杰云，任洪娥. 2011. 基于Lab模型的树叶绿色色差变化梯度研究. 智能计算机与应用，1 (2)：56–57.

Color Characteristics of Broccoli and Cauliflower Leaves Based on the Colorimeter Parameters

PDF

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

References

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	WEN Zhenghua, ZHANG Wei, SUN Deling, ZHANG Xiaoli, JIANG Hanmin. A New Broccoli Cultivar‘Lingxiu 5’ [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2025, 52(S1): 99-100.
[2]	LÜ Guifang, ZANG Yunping, TAO Zhengguo, LIU Cuicui, ZHANG Huali, BAO Manzhu, HE Yanhong. The Quantitative Classification of Flower Color Phenotype and Genetic Study for Population Flower Color in Marigold [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2025, 52(3): 646-654.
[3]	LIU Yuxiang, HAN Fengqing, ZHAO Xinyu, LIU Yumei, LI Zhansheng, $\boxed{\hbox{FANG Zhiyuan}}$. Cloning and Functional Analysis of Lateral Branching Regulatory Gene BoBRC1 in Broccoli [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2024, 51(9): 1997-2007.
[4]	MA Cunfa, WU Ting, ZHAO Hui, ZHANG Tianpei, ZHAO Lijian, YU Yonghui, XIAO Jiancheng, LI Jun, WU Shuiqin. Creation of Self-compatible Broccoli Lines by Knocking out BoSP11 Gene Through CRISPR/Cas9 Technology [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2024, 51(3): 509-519.
[5]	TANG Zheng, CHEN Sique, XU Qian, ZHONG Weijie, LIU Qing, ZHU Shiyang. Functional Study of AP2/ERF in Response to Black Rot at Broccoli Seedling Stage [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2024, 51(11): 2523-2539.
[6]	WANG Mengmeng, SUN Deling, CHEN Rui, YANG Yingxia, ZHANG Guan, LÜ Mingjie, WANG Qian, XIE Tianyu, NIU Guobao, SHAN Xiaozheng, TAN Jin, YAO Xingwei. Construction and Evaluation of Cauliflower Core Collection [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2023, 50(2): 421-431.
[7]	HUANG Jingjing, LIU Wei, LIU Yumei, HAN Fengqing, FANG Zhiyuan, YANG Limei, ZHUANG Mu, ZHANG Yangyong, LÜ Honghao, WANG Yong, JI Jialei, LI Zhansheng. Creation of Fertility Restorer Materials for Ogura CMS Broccoli and the Study of Its Genetic Background [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2022, 49(3): 533-547.
[8]	TANG Zheng, XU Qian, ZHANG Xiaoling, LIU Qing, ZHU Shiyang, and ZHONG Weijie. A New Broccoli Cultivar‘OuLü 75’ [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2021, 48(S2): 2835-2836.
[9]	ZHU Shiyang, ZHANG Xiaoling, LIU Qing, ZHONG Weijie, LUO Tiankuan, TANG Zheng, XU Qian, ZHOU Yuanchang. Cytoplasmic Effect Analysis of Different CMS Sources of Cauliflower [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2021, 48(6): 1107-1122.
[10]	JIANG Jing, JIN Dongxue, LI Huiyu, CHEN Su, and LIU Guifeng. A New Birch Cultivar‘Zhaoxia 1’ [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2020, 47(S2): 3123-3124.
[11]	ZHANG Xiaoling, LIU Qing, ZHU Shiyang, ZHONG Weijie, LUO Tiankuan, TANG Zheng, and QIU Boyin. A New Loose-curd Cauliflower Hybrid‘Ousong 60’ [J]. Acta Horticulturae Sinica, 2020, 47(9): 1861-1862.
[12]	YAO Xingwei，NIU Guobao，LIU Lili，SHAN Xiaozheng，WEN Zhenghua，JIANG Hanmin，ZHANG Xiaoli，and SUN Deling*. A New Cauliflower Cultivar‘Jinpin 75’ [J]. ACTA HORTICULTURAE SINICA, 2019, 46(S2): 2783-2784.
[13]	LIU Qing，ZHANG Xiaoling*，ZHU Shiyang，TANG Zheng，Qiu Boyin，and LUO Tiankuan. A New Loose-curd Cauliflower Cultivar‘Ousong 90 d’ [J]. ACTA HORTICULTURAE SINICA, 2019, 46(S2): 2785-2786.
[14]	YANG Long，LI Yirong，SU Yinling，WANG Lingmin，CHEN Guangping，MA Jixian，TANG Zhengfu，DAN Zhong，and MU Wanfu*. A New Cauliflower Cultivar‘Yunsonghua 1’ [J]. ACTA HORTICULTURAE SINICA, 2019, 46(8): 1625-1626.
[15]	SHAN Xiaozheng，WEN Zhenghua，ZHANG Xiaoli，JIANG Hanmin，YAO Xingwei，LIU Lili，NIU Guobao，and SUN Deling*. A New Loose-curd Cauliflower Cultivar‘Yousong 60’ [J]. ACTA HORTICULTURAE SINICA, 2018, 45(S2): 2745-2746.