This chapter introduces the thesis by describing the domain and concepts of diagnosing date palm diseases as well as ontology development. We present the thesis problem, the research objectives, the importance of the research, the scope and limitations of the thesis work, the research methodology, resources, and tools.
1.1 Date Palm Diseases and Ontology Development
Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: " and from the palm trees - of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low"," َٚ ا قٌَّْٕ َٛ ؼٍَِْٙب لِ َْٕٛا كَا ١َِٔخ " (Al-An'am, 99).
The date palm is one of the oldest fruit trees in the world and is mentioned in the Qur'an and Bible. The number of the date palm trees is about 100 million worldwide, of which 62 million palms can be found in the Arab world [1,2]. The place of origin of the date palm is uncertain. Some claim that the date palm first originated in Babel, Iraq, while others believe that it originated in Dareen or Hofuf, Saudi Arabia [3].
Date palm is a major food source and income source for local populations in the Middle East and North Africa. It plays significant roles in the economy, society, and environment in these areas. The date palm is a perennial, the females of which usually begin to bearing dates within an average of five years from the time of planting the branch. The date palm reaches an age of about 150 years.
Palm tree is infected with many diseases, pests and insects that cause the production cut, and adversely affect the country's economy. Disease develops from an interaction between disease triangle components. Disease triangle [4] involves three major factors that contribute to the development of a plant disease: a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and a conductive environment. A plant disease results when these three factors occur simultaneously (Figure 1). If one or more of these factors do not occur, then the disease does not occur. The sick plant then gives evidence that something is wrong and the evidence of disease that we can see is called symptoms.