Chlorophyll fluorescence and multispectral image analysis to evaluate the quality of carrot and tomato seeds

• Grant number: 18/24777-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Clíssia Barboza da Silva
• Grantee: Patrícia Aparecida Galletti
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/15220-7 - Non-destructive image analysis methods for seed quality evaluation, AP.JP

Abstract

Since the costs for producing vegetable seeds are high, the use of high quality seeds is essential to obtain adequate establishment of seedlings, and allows cost control and viability of the production system. In carrot and tomato, the flowering and fruiting are continuous; fruits of the same plant are found in different stages of maturation. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the physiological maturity of seeds as well as the best time for harvesting. Seed lots harvested at different maturation levels have lower quality. Germination of immature seeds is slow, however, after physiological maturity, seed germination becomes faster and more uniform, with larger and more vigorous seedlings. Furthermore, growth and development of seedlings vary according to the stage of seed maturation. Thus, the development of rapid and accurate procedures to evaluate the seed quality is of great importance. The research plan of this study consists of the analysis of samples from commercial lots of carrot and tomato seeds to identify seeds at different level of maturation, using the chlorophyll fluorescence and multispectral images. Initially, the methodology proposes the use of the SeedReporter equipment, which allows not only the evaluation of the chlorophyll fluorescence in the seeds, but also the monitoring of seedling vigor. The SeedReporter also allows to relate the differences in seed vigor with the performance of the seedlings produced. Samples will be also submitted to multispectral analysis using the VideoMeterLab equipment for obtaining spatial and spectral information from the target objects and determination of the most appropriate image patterns for seed quality control. (AU)