Image Analysis in the Evaluation of the Physical and Physiological Quality of Jiló (Solanum gilo) Seeds during Development
Marcus Vinicius Prado Alves *
Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, P.O.Box 3037, ZIP Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
Édila Vilela de Resende Von Pinho
Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, P.O.Box 3037, ZIP Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
Gustavo Costa Prado Alves
Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, P.O.Box 3037, ZIP Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
Maria Laene Moreira de Carvalho
Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, P.O.Box 3037, ZIP Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
Heloisa Oliveira dos Santos
Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, P.O.Box 3037, ZIP Code 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Currently, the X-ray image analysis of seeds has proved effective for the evaluation of the physical and physiological quality of the seeds, besides being a non-destructive method. The objective of this work was to evaluate the internal free area of jiló seeds (Solanum gilo) through the analysis of radiographic images and to relate the results with the germination of seeds in different stages of maturation. The seeds were harvested at 35, 40, 45 days after anthesis and 45 days after anthesis with 7 days at rest (45 DAAr). Seeds with free internal area ≤ 10% produced normal seedlings whereas seeds with an average free area above 10% produced abnormal or non-germinated seedlings. Seeds of fruits harvested at 45 DAA and seven days at rest showed a smaller internal free area and a formation of 100% of normal seedlings. The analysis of the radiographic images of jiló seeds allows the measurement of the free internal areas, as well as the determination of the relation between these and the germination.
Keywords: Germination, ImageJ®, physiological maturity, seed development, X-ray