Abstract
Abstract: The use of computational resources to assess the physiological potential of seeds has attracted the attention of researchers and professionals in the seed sector. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vigor of cowpea seeds using the Vigor-S software (Automated Seed Vigor Analysis System), in comparison to the information provided by traditional vigor tests that are recommended for the species. Seven seed lots of the cultivar BRS Guariba were used. They underwent germination and seed vigor assessment by testing first germination count, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, seedling emergence, speed of seedling emergence and use of Vigor-S, an automated image system for seedling assessment, in two evaluation periods. The data underwent analysis of variance, in a completely randomized design and their means were compared by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05). An analysis was made of the correlation between the vigor tests traditionally used and the variables provided by Vigor-S. Using the Vigor-S software for automated image analysis of cowpea seedlings three days after sowing is an efficient alternative to detect differences in vigor between seed lots, similarly to traditional seed vigor evaluations.
Highlights
Given the need to extend this methodology to other species, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the technique of automated seedling analysis using the software Vigor-S to detect the vigor of cowpea seeds in different lots, and compare the outcomes with the information provided by traditional vigor tests recommended for the species
The variation in moisture content between seed lots at the beginning of the assessments and after accelerated aging was not greater than two percentage points (Table 1); it did not interfere with the performance of seed lots (Marcos-Filho, 2015a)
Based on the analysis of variance, differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found in germination and vigor between the seed lots evaluated in the two assessment periods
Summary
One of the most common problems faced by farmers when growing this species is low seed quality. Many seeds are multiplied and stored by producers themselves between agricultural cycles (Smiderle et al, 2017), which may further increase the loss of physiological quality before sowing is performed. Quick detection of the vigor of cowpea seeds is essential to avoid loss of seed quality (and, commercial losses) and to enable sowing. There has been ongoing research into alternative methods for seed vigor assessment to compare their efficiency with that of traditional vigor tests. An example is automated seed vigor assessment, e.g., automated analysis of seedling images, which is a feasible and promising alternative for seed vigor assessment (Castan et al, 2018)
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