Recommendations Based on the Florida Citrus Rootstock Selection Guide Using a Web-server Application of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

The Third Edition of the Florida Citrus Rootstock Selection Guide was recently released online. This website is a valuable resource containing updated information on rootstock options. The site is unique in that several technologies there complement the rootstock table, including: 1) an interactive online version of the table; 2) an extensive bibliography containing over 100 rootstock references; and 3) an expert system to help focus on the best rootstock candidates given certain user-selected criteria. The expert system is a backward-chaining platform that interviews users about their planting and site requirements. The system uses artificial intelligence technology to infer the best candidate rootstocks based on those criteria. The results are presented in an ordered list from top to bottom showing rootstocks that might be considered. The expert system is built on the Exsys Corvid® Core for Mac OS® X platform, which has the advantages of providing robust development features at a reasonable cost. This paper presents the expert system, provides details on the development process, and discusses the results of a focus group presentation for real-world user feedback.