Development of computer program for automatic X-ray analysis of quality of vegetable seeds

Abstract

Traditional morphometric methods of seed quality analysis, although they are accurate, are less informative, labor-intensive and long-term in execution. In modern conditions, in seed science and seed control, the use of more informative and high-speed instrumental methods is required. The method of microfocus X-ray of seeds is one of them, it allows you to visualize the internal structure of seeds. In the joint work of employees of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center, Agrophysical Research Institute and St. Petersburg State Electrotechnical University, Research Institute for Storage Problems of "Rosrezerv", a method of X-ray analysis of the quality of vegetable seeds was developed and tested. Currently, programming, automation of this method is underway. The method of digital analysis of X-ray images in automatic mode comes as a replacement for the previously applied visual analysis of seed radiographs. A modernized software and hardware complex was developed and tested, a program algorithm was compiled, consisting of several stages. As a result, the quality analysis of seeds is significantly accelerated by visualizing their internal structure. The newly developed computer program "Sortsemkontrol-2" recognizes seeds according to the following qualitative indicators: full-value, underdevelopment, undevelopment, monstrous. The analysis results are automatically reported as a log. The fractional analysis of the seed batch is also carried out, the dimensional characteristic of each fraction is given, according to the two largest adjacent fractions, the equalization of the seed batch is determined. Fractional analysis of a batch of seeds is of great practical importance for pre-production of seeds. In the future, the application of the computer program "Sortsemkontrol-2" will provide an accelerated, at the same time informative analysis of the quality of seeds, which is very important in the conditions of commercialization of seed turnover.