Assessment of squash seed vigor using computerized image analysis

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of the SVIS ® (Seed Vigor Imaging System) to determine squash seed vigor evaluated at different stages of maturation. 'Jabras' hybrid seeds, resulting from a cross between Cucurbita maxima (female parent) and Cucurbita moschata (male parent), were used in this study. Seeds extracted from fruit at different maturation stages (harvested at 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after anthesis and stored or not for 20 days after each harvest) were subjected to the following determinations: 100 seed weight, germination, saturated salt accelerated aging, and SVIS ®. This computerized system provided data on indexes of seedling vigor and uniformity of seedling development and on seedling growth. Results from SVIS ® were similar to information from the other vigor tests performed in this study, detecting significant differences in performance among seeds during the maturation process. This indicates that SVIS ® is a reliable alternative for obtaining consistent information on the physiological potential of squash seeds.Index terms: seed analysis, seedling growth, maturation, physiological potential, seed quality control.Avaliação do vigor de sementes de abóbora mediante a análise computadorizada de imagens de plântulas RESUMO -Este trabalho procurou verificar a eficiência do SVIS ® (Seed Vigor Imaging System) para determinar o vigor de sementes de abóbora colhidas durante diferentes estádios de maturação. Utilizou-se a cultivar híbrida Jabras, proveniente do cruzamento entre Cucurbita maxima (linhagem feminina) e Cucurbita moschata (linhagem masculina). As sementes foram extraídas de frutos colhidos aos 15, 30, 45, 60 e 75 dias após a antese e armazenados, ou não, durante 20 dias após cada colheita e submetidas às seguintes determinações: massa de 100 sementes, geminação, envelhecimento acelerado com solução saturada de NaCl e SVIS ® . Esta análise forneceu dados referentes aos índices de vigor e de uniformidade de desenvolvimento e ao crescimento das plântulas. Os resultados provenientes da análise computadorizada de imagens de plântulas foram semelhantes aos fornecidos pelos outros testes de vigor, detectando diferenças significativas no desempenho das sementes durante o processo de maturação. Isto demostra que o SVIS ® é uma alternativa viável para a obtenção de informações consistentes sobre o potencial fisiológico de sementes de abóbora.Termos para indexação: análise de sementes, maturação, potencial fisiológico, crescimento de plântulas, controle de qualidade de sementes.1

Assessing the physiological quality of common bean seeds using the Vigor-S® system and its relation to the accelerated aging test

“…The variables obtained from the software were sensitive in detecting differences in seed vigor in all the periods evaluated, highlighting the uniformity index and the vigor index. According to Silva et al (2017), the vigor and uniformity indexes generated from the data obtained in evaluation of squash seedling growth are effective parameters for composing programs for seed quality control.…”

“…The use of software that employs the seedling image analysis technique to make inferences regarding seed quality has been studied and recommended for various species, such as squash (Silva et al, 2017), onion (Gonçalves et al, 2017), carrot (Marchi and Cicero, 2017), crambe (Leão-Araújo et al, 2017), soybean (Medeiros and Pereira, 2018;Wendt et al, 2017), common bean (Gomes-Junior et al, 2014), and maize (Castan et al, 2018), among others. However, there is not yet information that shows the effectiveness of Vigor-S® for evaluating common bean seed vigor (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).…”

SAPL®: a free software for determining the physiological potential in soybean seeds1

“…This result may indicate that an earlier evaluation allows a greater refinement in the process of identifying quality differences among the tested lots, in addition to significantly reducing the time spent to perform the test. Researches with crambe (Leão-Araújo et al 2017), pumpkin (Silva et al 2017), bean (Gomes * Averages followed by the same letter in the column do not differ by the Scott-Knott test (p < 0.05).…”

“…Moreover, significant differences were found among lots for the germination speed index, allowing a categorization into five vigor levels. As a priority, vigor tests seek to obtain complementary responses to those provided by the germination test (Ohlson et al 2010), enabling the acquisition of reliable information to determine the seed physiological potential, but some adjustments related to standardization, precision and speed, in obtaining results, are still necessary (Silva et al 2017).…”

“…been successfully reported for several species, such as pumpkin (Silva et al 2017), peanut (Barbosa et al 2016), corn (Castan et al 2018), wheat (Brunes et al 2016), sunflower (Rocha et al 2015), bean (Gomes Junior et al 2014) and soybean (Marcos Filho et al 2009, Wendt et al 2014, Yagushi et al 2014, among others. The commercial systems developed for this purpose are powerful tools for collecting image data and making inferences about seed vigor.…”