Development of a high-throughput computational system for vigor assessing of soybean seeds

• Grant number: 21/12321-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Guilhien Gomes Junior
• Grantee: Luiz Gustavo Schultz Senko
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The speed and uniformity of seedling emergence in the field are factors directly related to the vigor level of a seed lot. These factors are essential for the proper establishment of the plants stand in the field and obtaining high productivity. The improvement and/or development of procedures for evaluating seed vigor are frequently studied. In this context, the possibility of using computational resources has aroused the interest of researchers and professionals linked to the internal quality control of seed companies. Computerized image analysis systems are alternatives to decrease subjectivity and increase speed and accuracy in evaluating the physiological potential of seed lots. Due to its morphological and physiological characteristics, soybean seeds are very prone to deterioration, environmental adversities during maturation and inadequate practices in harvesting, processing, and storage management. Consequently, fast and efficient procedures are increasingly needed to identify problems associated with the loss of physiological potential of seeds. In aid of regular research recently funded by FAPESP (process no. 2015/24008-6), an equipment was developed that allows high efficiency in the acquisition of seedling images and with great potential to be used in software development based on the extraction of morphological characteristics of seedlings. Thus, the project aims to develop and validate a specific software for the vigor assessment of soybean seeds, based on images of seedlings obtained using this equipment directly on the paper used for the germination test, to enable a reliable, practical computerized procedure, with a high-throughput and low cost for evaluating the physiological potential of soybean seed lots.