Computer applications in seed technology

Abstract

Seed vigor testing provides valuable information for assessing seed lot quality. However, vigor testing has not experienced widespread use because it is labor intensive, costly, and test results often vary between laboratories. An automated seed vigor assessment system that is objective, economical and easy to perform is presented for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). The system interfaces a flat bed scanner that captures digital images of germinating seedlings to a computer. The images are processed by a computer to generate numerical values (vigor index) that collectively represent the quality of a seed lot based on various statistics acquired from morphological features of the imaged seedlings. These statistics include the sample mean of hypocotyl and radicle lengths, and sample standard deviation of the hypocotyl length, radicle length, total length (hypocotyl length plus radicle length), and radicle-to-hypocotyl-length ratio that indicate speed and uniformity of seedling development. The system was tested on lettuce and soybean seedlings grown for three days in the dark. The results indicated that the imaging system accurately quantified these parameters to yield reproducible, objective vigor assessments.